* * *
If I thought it was over with Theo, I was wrong. He found me at break time, when I was putting some books into my locker.
“Emily,” he said, standing behind me and I froze. I’d forgotten the effect his voice and his presence had on me.
“What?” I said, afraid to turn round and look into his eyes. If I gazed into those deep pools of blue, I wasn't sure I could control my emotions. Mentally, I put a force field around my body, trying to ward his energy away from me.
“Emily, don’t close me out,” he begged. “We need to talk. Please turn round.”
He sounded so sad and forlorn, I wavered. “Turn around,” he pleaded again.
I strengthened my resolve and spoke without turning. “I’ve got nothing to say to you, Theo. You told me an elaborate story and expected me to believe it, then when the chance came for you to prove it, you wouldn’t do it. So what am I supposed to believe? I don’t want to look at you and I don’t want to see you any more.”
“Emily, I tried to tell you…’ he began, but I interrupted him.
“Theo, my Granddad is dead. If you and your family have the powers you say you do, you could have saved him. But you didn’t.”
“Couldn’t, Emily, couldn’t. I tried to explain.”
“So you couldn’t help my Granddad, but you could help all those old folk at the Blue Moon Ball?” I turned suddenly, my anger getting too much.
If anything, he looked more beautiful than ever. I yearned to touch his smooth, perfect skin, gaze into his troubled blue eyes and feel his soft, sensuous lips on mine. The attraction between us was almost too great. I steeled myself and resisted the temptation to fall into his arms.
“The Blue Moon Ball was different,” he said. “Look, we can’t discuss this here. There are too many people. And it’s all too complicated. Meet me later? Give me a chance to explain properly?”
I stared at him, trying desperately to control my emotions.
“You’re not listening to me, Theo. It’s over. I don’t want to see you any more. Please leave me alone.” I turned back to my locker and continued taking out my books.
I felt his face close to the back of my head and heard him say, “For now, Emily, but it’s not over. You know it.”
At lunchtime, he found me again. Seth was at rugby practice and Tash had a dental appointment, so I sat in the far corner of the cafeteria feeling alone and vulnerable. It was inevitable he would seek me out. As I sat, pushing the food around my plate, without any appetite, he slid on to the chair opposite me before I realised it.
“Theo, I’ve told you…..” I started to say, but he interrupted.
“Emily, listen to me. You have to let me explain properly. You owe me that at least.”
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” I said wearily.
“No, I’m not, so you might as well let me have my say.”
“Okay, go on then.”
“Not here, it’s too public.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Theo. It’s here or nowhere, take your pick.”
He grinned at me. “You can be very forceful when you want, Emily, your energy is very strong.”
“I thought you were going to give me an explanation,” I said coldly.
“I am.” He looked at me earnestly. “Emily, what were the last words your Granddad said to you? Think clearly.”
His words took me by surprise and I faltered. “That’s none of your business.”
“Did he say he wanted to live forever?” persisted Theo.
“No,” I had to admit, “he didn’t.”
“What did he say? Emily, this is important.”
I remembered back to that afternoon in the hospital. “He said he’d had a good, long life and although he hated to leave us behind, he didn't want to go on for eternity. He said there was a time for birth and a time for death. The natural order. That’s how things were meant to be.” The tears were starting to stream down my cheeks. “He said he was going to see my Grandma.” My voice was little more than a whisper. “He told me to remember that.”
“You see, Emily, your Granddad didn’t want saving. He understood the natural order. He knew it was his time to go.” Theo spoke kindly.
“No,” I said, through my tears, “it was too soon. I didn't want him to go.”
“I know,” said Theo. “Death is never easy to accept, but sometimes we have to.”
“What do you know about death?” I asked him angrily. “Haven’t you and your family managed to cheat it for thousands of years? How could you possibly know what I’m going through?”
“Death is a constant fear for us, Emily, and it doesn’t happen naturally,” he replied. “Ours is one of rapid ageing and decay, as you saw with our unfortunate guest. Can you imagine how it feels for your skin, your organs and your senses to shrivel to nothing within minutes? For your hair to thin, your teeth to fall out and your body to fail in less time than it takes to walk across a room? There’s no slowing up, no gradual descent into old age for us. It hits us full in the face, like being hurled off a precipice.” He laughed scornfully. “That’s the threat hanging over us and that’s the price we have to pay for eternal youth. Which is why I don't want it for you.”
“But what about your guests at the Blue Moon Ball?” I asked. “They were old and yet you made them young.”
“I know that’s how it looked, Emily, but the truth is, they were young when they were first initiated, and that’s the age they’ll remain, frozen in time for eternity.”
“But they were old when I saw them,” I persisted.
“That’s because every three years, their life force begins to ebb away and the accelerated ageing process kicks in. The only way to reverse it is to bathe in the light of the crystal at the time of the Blue Moon. It’s the only way we can recharge our energy and rejuvenate. If we don’t,” he faltered, “well, you saw what happens.”
“You say ‘we’, Theo,” my voice was a whisper. “That means you as well.”
As much as I didn’t want to hear it, I had to know the truth.
“Yes,” he said reluctantly, “yes, I had started to age, which was one of the reasons I couldn’t see you. I couldn’t bear for you to see me looking like that.”
“Oh, Theo,” I said softly.
“Now, perhaps you can see why I’m so confused about everything,” he said sadly. His eyes were full of pain and love and emotions I could barely understand. “This is not the life I want for you. I love you, Emily, and I want to be with you, but, more than anything, I want you to have an ordinary, happy, normal life.”
I stared at him, not knowing what to say.
“And you have to believe me, Emily, there was truly nothing I could do to save your Granddad. Sometimes, you just have to let go.”
I looked down. “It hurts, Theo, more than I ever imagined. I’ve never lost anyone before. Well, my dad, perhaps, but that’s different. I lost him to another country and another family, not to death. It’s just so final. And I feel so alone.”
“But you’re not, Emily, you have your mum, you have your friends, and you have me.”
“Do I?” I asked, “You come from a strange world, Theo, one that you don’t want me to belong to. What future could we possibly have?”
“I don’t know, Emily,” he said sadly. “I only know that I need to be with you. I don’t want to lose you. I love you, Emily, so much. If you only knew….”
I put my hand on his and squeezed it.
“I do,” I said. “My granddad said we went well together. But can’t you see how much I’ve had to take in over the past few weeks? I still don’t know if I believe all you’ve told me, it sounds so far-fetched. And, by the way, I found my phone. I hadn’t dropped it at Hartswell Hall. It was in the pocket of the blue cloak you lent me. So, there’s no way The Lunari can know about me. There’s nothing to link me to the Blue Moon Ball. That is, supposing The Lunari actually exist. Don’t you see, Theo?”
r /> “It doesn’t matter, Emily,” he said slowly. “I’m glad you didn’t drop your phone at the Hall. It makes life marginally simpler. But don’t you see? Pantera and Aquila know about you. At the moment, two things stand in your favour. Firstly, they don’t know that I’ve told you the truth, and, secondly, for the moment, they’re obeying Viyesha and not telling The Lunari about you. But that could change at any moment.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I mean, the hotel opens for business this weekend, and The Lunari are coming to visit. They’ll be here in Hartswell-on-the-Hill and The Guardians will have no option but to tell them about you.”
I looked at him wildly.
“So, I have less than a week,” I said in horror. “Everything changes in days?”
“Yes,” said Theo sadly. “We have just days to decide what to do.”
27. Attack I
Grace Wisterley took her evening constitutional as usual, walking through the fields where her sheep stood grazing, then cutting back through Hartswell Hall grounds, and on to the gravelled driveway that led to the High Street.
She intended to call in on Tom Mastock for a nightcap, as she often did, finding a drop of his Jamieson’s whisky sent her off to sleep a treat when she returned home. But on this occasion, she never made it beyond Hartswell Hall’s driveway. She’d been feeling out of sorts for a few days now and wondered if she was sickening for something. Her head ached permanently, her mouth was dry and her back was playing up something rotten. She’d even developed a stoop in the last few days.
“Don’t know what’s up wi’ me,” she’d said to her daughter on the phone. “I’ve no energy to do ‘owt. All I want to do is sleep or eat.”
“You can’t be feeling too bad if your appetite is good,” her daughter had pointed out.
“It’s better than good, it’s insatiable,” she’d laughed.
And indeed it was. Whatever she ate, she simply couldn’t get enough of it. The shepherd’s pie that would normally last for three days was gone within minutes, shovelled down as if it were her last meal. She’d eaten a whole roast chicken, too hungry to wait until she’d carved it, tearing off great chunks of meat with her teeth and not stopping until it was all gone, bones and all. Then she’d gone to the butchers’ and bought as much red meat as she could carry, staggering home with a variety of steaks, minced meat, cutlets, liver and kidneys, not even waiting until she arrived home before she started to eat it raw, the blood dripping down her chin.
But no matter how much she ate and how much she slept – and she found herself dozing off all the time – she couldn’t shake this feeling of bone-weary tiredness. Her limbs felt heavy and cumbersome, her energy levels were at an all time low, and her back had hunched alarmingly.
“It’s almost as if I’m carrying a huge weight on my back,” she’d told Tom Mastock. “Something’s draining my energy, and no matter how much I eat, I’m permanently exhausted. I don’t think much o’ this getting old malarkey.”
“Pop in for a night cap on your way back home,” he’d suggested. “That’ll make you feel better.”
And that’s what she was about to do, except she never made it.
One minute, she was walking past Hartswell Hall, her feet crunching on the gravel, the next she hit the deck, landing flat on her face, dead as a doornail, her eyes staring straight ahead.
Silently, the black shadow on her back disengaged itself, sliding on to the pathway, replenished and recuperated. As it did so, the dead woman’s bent spine slowly began to straighten as if the cares of the world were finally leaving her now she was unable to carry them any longer.
The black shadow stretched up into the air, blacker and more substantial than it had been for a long time. Quickly, it assessed its bearings, realising it could not have asked for a more convenient drop-off. Without a sound, it glided towards Hartswell Hall, aiming for the great oak front door, and flowing beneath it like a dark, deadly gas.
No one was in reception and it continued on its way unheeded, flowing quickly and unnoticed up the main stairway. The object of its desire was getting ever closer and freedom was at last within its grasp.
28. Martha
Tash and Seth weren’t too pleased when I told them I was back with Theo.
“I thought you said he was a fantasist weirdo,” said Seth, “or is that what you’re into nowadays?”
“Be careful, Emily,” said Tash. “There’s something strange going on and even if you’re not in danger, you could get hurt.”
“I’m okay, guys,” I said. “Just forget all that stuff I told you. I was going through a funny phase after Granddad died. I wasn’t thinking straight. Theo told me this story to take my mind off things. I got muddled up and ended up thinking he was telling me the truth. Turns out he was just trying to make me feel better.”
“But what about the photos on your phone?” persisted Tash. “What was all that about?”
“Oh, they were two separate events,” I lied. “One was a celebrity look alike party and the other was an old folks reunion, both held at Hartswell Hall. Sorry, guys. I didn’t have a very good grip on reality after losing Granddad. I didn’t know what was fantasy and what was fact.”
“Loony toony!” said Seth. “People go on medication for less than that, Emily.”
“I know. I’m fine now. I’m over it. Theo and I are good.”
It sounded odd and I knew it. I could tell they weren’t convinced, but they kept their distance and were coolly polite whenever they saw Theo. For the moment, an odd sort of status quo existed. I knew Tash and Seth were watching and waiting, and in a strange way I welcomed it, like having a safety net in place. In truth, I was just glad to have Theo back in my life, to be able to slip my hand into his, see his magical smile and feel my energy levels rise whenever I was with him. He made me feel good. Very good. But I also knew it couldn’t stay that way, that something would have to change and the days were ticking past.
On a lighter note, Joseph finished working on my car and one evening he and Theo delivered it to my driveway. I could hardly believe what I saw.
“It’s fantastic, Joseph,” I said, giving him a hug. “Are you sure it’s the same car?”
Martha indeed looked completely different: her paintwork, her hub caps and her chrome work shone with an intensity that was blinding, and inside she smelled as if she’d come straight from the showroom.
“She has new spark plugs, new brake pads, a new battery and new tyres, and I’ve given her a spring clean inside and out,” Joseph informed me.
“It looks more like a complete overhaul,” I said in amazement. “Thank you so much, Joseph, you don’t know what this means to me. Tell me how much I owe you.”
Joseph put up his hand. “Nothing, Emily, it was a pleasure. I love bringing things back to life.”
“Come on, let’s take her out for a spin,” suggested Theo. “You can drive, Emily.”
I sat in the driving seat, Theo by my side and Joseph in the back. As I turned the ignition, she roared into life and shot forward the moment my foot touched the accelerator. I braked quickly.
“Whoa! What have you done to her, Joseph?” I squealed. “She was never this powerful.”
“I might have modified her engine slightly,” admitted Joseph. “Sorry, couldn’t resist it. I should have told you.”
I looked in my rear view mirror. “Modified it how, exactly?”
“I’ve given her a V8 engine,” he said gingerly.
“OMG, you’re kidding! Did you know about this, Theo?”
“Nothing to do with me,” he said, grinning. “Just take it slowly, okay.”
“I don’t think that’s possible in this car,” I laughed.
This time I eased forward tentatively, aware of the power beneath my feet. Martha moved effortlessly up the lane and slowly I began to get accustomed to her new levels of responsiveness. She went like a dream, a deep throaty roar emanating from her bonnet, and I heade
d for the motorway. It was 7pm and the rush hour traffic had dispersed, giving me the open road to play with. Theo turned on the sound system and Jon Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ filled the cabin.
“These acoustics are amazing,” I shouted back to Joseph. “Don’t tell me she’s got a new sound system too?”
“Latest Fender soundpack. Just wanted to check it out,” he grinned.
Once on the motorway, I put my foot down and Martha surged forward, burning rubber and blasting rock music. It felt fantastic and for a short time I was lost in the moment, oblivious to everything but the pounding beat, the roaring engine and the rapidly disappearing tarmac. And, of course, the two beautiful creatures with me in the car.
All too soon, it was over and we were back on my driveway. I turned to Joseph. “Wow. That was unexpected. You are full of surprises.”
He gave a mock bow. “We aim to please, madam.”
How I loved this family. If only they’d been ordinary people. If only they’d been human.
29. Viyesha
After my trip out in Martha, I couldn’t take the grin off my face, but next day came the news I’d been dreading. I was summoned to have a ‘chat’ with Viyesha.
It was now the second weekend in May and Hartswell Hall was open for business. As yet, there was no sign of The Lunari, but I knew their arrival was imminent and there was no doubt in my mind as to why Viyesha wanted to talk with me. Just over two weeks had passed since Granddad died and although I still felt raw and out of kilter with the world, I had begun to accept he wasn’t coming back and that Theo had been powerless to alter the course of events. Without Granddad’s guiding hand in my life, I found myself relying on Theo more and more. My mum seemed glad I had a boyfriend to lean on, especially such a good-looking, reliable, sensible boy as Theo. I had to suppress a rueful smile when she said that. If only. She admitted that she’d met someone, too.
“It’s not serious, just someone from work,” she told me. “We’ve only been on a couple of dates, so I won’t introduce him yet. But he makes me laugh and that’s what I need right now.”
It was a glorious summer afternoon, the bright sun giving everything a lazy, hazy feel, as Theo and I walked up the gravelled drive to Hartswell Hall. I was going to drive over in the new rejuvenated Martha, but decided against it at the last minute as I didn’t want to advertise my presence. I preferred to stay as low key as possible.
Violet stood on the steps waiting for us, watching us approach.
“Hi, Emily, how are you?” she asked sweetly, embracing me and giving me one of her most engaging smiles. “Mother’s in the library. Come and say hello.”
She led the way past the reception area, decorated with beautiful flower arrangements of red and pink roses, blue irises and white lilies. The windows were open, letting in the fresh air and sunshine, and it felt warm, welcoming and normal.
“We have our first guests,” announced Violet.
“That’s great,” I said, feigning interest. I felt too nervous of what lay ahead to take much interest in their new business venture.
“We’re hosting the annual conference of the National Institute of Plastic Surgeons,” said Violet, “and Kimberley Chartreuse, the famous glamour model, has booked in for a couple of nights.”
“That’s really exciting,” I said flatly. “I’ve seen her reality TV show. She looks amazing, but I suspect she’s had a lot of work done. Just as well you’ve got plastic surgeons on hand in case she needs anything else fixing.”
“Take it from me, there’s nothing natural about her,” said Violet. “And what a prima donna. She arrived last night, all airs and graces. Changed rooms three times, insisted on having a full tour, broom cupboards and all, and gave mother a real grilling, asking her where she’d come from, how long she’d been here and how old she was. I don’t know how mother stayed so polite. I’d have told her to take a running jump.”
“Probably jealousy,” I said, “because Viyesha’s more beautiful than she is.”
By now we were standing outside the library and Theo opened the oak panelled door.
“Good luck,” he whispered, as I walked in.
In the library, Viyesha sat on one of the leather Chesterfields, turning the pages of a fashion magazine with beautifully manicured, slender fingers. She was dressed immaculately, as always, this time in a pale blue Chanel-style jacket and matching pencil skirt, with a soft white cashmere rollneck. Her lips were painted pale pink, her blond hair was loose around her shoulders, and her blue eyes sparkled and twinkled. A CD of Liszt’s Liebestraum played softly in the background.
“Emily,” she purred, placing the magazine on the coffee table in front of her. “Come and sit with me. It’s delightful to see you.”
She patted the place next to her and, like an obedient pet, I walked over and sat down. At once, I experienced the most wonderful sensation of wellbeing.
“Hello, Viyesha,” I purred back, “It’s good to see you, too.”
I heard the door close behind us.
“Can I get you anything?” asked Viyesha. “A cup of tea, a drink?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you,” I said politely.
“I won’t beat about the bush,” said Viyesha, sitting back in the Chesterfield and turning to face me. “There are things of which I need to speak, Emily.”
“I know,” I said, feeling nervous. This was it. The conversation I didn’t want to have.
“I understand Theo has told you certain things?”
“Yes,” I said, looking down. I didn’t want to look into her large blue eyes.
“Tell me what you know, Emily,” said Viyesha softly.
I swallowed, unsure what to say, then looked Viyesha square in the face.
“I know about the blue crystal and its powers of conveying eternal youth on those who bathe in its rays,” I began, feeling self-conscious. “And I know you have to wait for a Blue Moon to activate the crystal. I also know you brought the crystal from Egypt…” I faltered, then said, “The truth is, Viyesha, I don’t know what to believe, it all sounds so incredible. Theo said I would be at risk from The Lunari, but I’ve seen no evidence of them. He also said Aquila and Pantera consider me a threat, but apart from them being generally unpleasant to me, there’s hardly been an attempt on my life. Well, apart from the wall collapsing on me,” again I faltered, “but that could have been an accident.”
I dared not mention the Blue Moon Ball, or that I had secretly observed her guests and taken photos.
Viyesha stood up and walked to the window. She looked out over the grounds and seemed to be thinking what to say. Then she turned to face me. “Emily,” she said in a matter-of-fact voice, “be under no illusion what is going on here. Believe me, The Lunari exist and they would eliminate you like that if they so wished,” she snapped her fingers, “Be under no illusion about Aquila and Pantera, either. They are Guardians of the crystal and have killed many times to protect it. While you wear Theo’s crystal necklace you have protection, but should you remove it, I cannot guarantee your safety.”
My hand went involuntarily to the crystal hanging round my neck, my fingers touching its smooth, faceted surface. Viyesha looked at me a little more kindly.
“I’m sorry, Emily. It was not my choosing to bring you into the family or place you in danger. That was Theo’s doing, which leads me to a further complication. Theo believes you to be the reincarnation of the woman he loved and lost many years ago. There certainly appears to be a connection between you, and you bear an uncanny resemblance to the woman he once loved as you saw on the necklace he wears.”
She smiled softly, “He believes it is you. But he wants to protect you from the crystal, in case its power should prove too great and he loses you again.”
She returned to the sofa, taking her time before speaking again.
“Emily, my son has been unhappy for many years and I would do anything within my power to change that. The obvious solution would be
for you to join us, but you are young, with your life ahead of you and it is not for me to force you into a course of action you will regret for the rest of your days. You need to think through the options carefully before making your decision. It may still be possible for you to walk away and for me to appease Pantera and Aquila and The Lunari, but you would never see Theo again.”
My mind filled with dread. The thought of losing Theo was more than I could bear.
“The alternative is for you to bathe in the crystal’s light and enjoy the gift of eternal youth….and Theo’s love for eternity.”
“As long as I survive the crystal’s power,” I said.
“It is true, many do not survive the initiation,” she said, “The crystal is immensely powerful and its rejuvenating powers can work in reverse, speeding up the ageing process. We have no way of knowing how you would react. The risks are great.”
She looked at me anxiously. “There again, should you rejuvenate successfully, the rewards are infinite. Time cannot touch you, the world is your playground and you would be with Theo forever, enjoying eternal youth together. You would step beyond the confines of the mortal body and experience supernatural power and beauty.”
I stared at her in dismay. It was like being faced with a proposal of marriage, but too early on in the relationship to know if it was the right thing to do. What she was saying was so far beyond my powers of comprehension, I simply couldn’t apply reason and common sense. My future hung in the balance, my life was at a pivotal stage, and I had no way of knowing which choice to make.
“I don’t know what to do, Viyesha,” I admitted. “Half of me wants to have an ordinary life and enjoy all the things other people of my age are doing.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “But the other half wants to be with Theo and stay young forever, to bathe in the crystal’s light. I couldn’t face a future without him.”
“It is a blessing and a curse, Emily,” said Viyesha, “to live through history and experience it first hand as time rolls through the centuries…. to enjoy youth and beauty others can only dream about… to live a life of magic and mystery, with untold wealth and power…to live as an immortal and hold eternity in the palm of your hand.”
Her eyes shone as she spoke and I knew she was seeing things in her mind that I couldn’t even contemplate: events, people and places that had shaped history; experiences, opportunities and possibilities that were limitless, ageless and timeless.
“But the bad almost outweighs the good,” she said, in a whisper. Now her eyes clouded over and she was seeing a different picture. “Imagine, Emily, having your very existence dictated by an event that occurs every three years; having to bathe in the light of a crystal to restore your failing youth or endure an unimaginable death: the agony of rapid ageing as your organs cease to function, your bones grow brittle and your skin dries out… to cease being, all in a matter of minutes…”
She stopped and took a deep breath.
“Forgive me Emily, I don’t wish to frighten you, but your eyes need to be opened if you are to make the right decision. Now, ask me anything and I will try to answer.”
“Okay,” I said, the issues before me so huge and incomprehensible as to render my mind blank. “What do you eat? I’ve never seen Theo or Violet eat.”
Viyesha threw back her head and laughed. “Oh, Emily. So many metaphysical and esoteric issues, and you pick the mundane.” She smiled at me. “I’m sorry, I truly forget how young you are and how many moons I have seen pass. It is a relevant question. The answer is that we eat sparingly and discerningly. We are highly evolved Light Beings, which means our bodily systems are extremely sensitive and can digest only that which comes directly from light: vegetarian food as you call it, plants, vegetables, seeds and nuts, which we produce ourselves. The Lunari are so refined, they metabolise the sun’s rays into energy and live on light alone.”
“Light Beings,” I repeated, trying to understand what she was saying. “I see. And your symbol is the circle crossed by an infinity sign. I saw it on the Clock Tower and on Theo’s arm. ”
I dared not admit I’d seen it on the backs of the cloaks at the Blue Moon Ball or on the shoulder of a guest.
“Yes, that is The Lunari’s symbol,” said Viyesha. “The circle represents the full moon, and the infinity sign, eternity. We greet each other thus.” She cupped her hands in a circle in front of her, crossing her thumbs, replicating the symbol.
“Is there anything else you wish to know?”
“Theo told me how you discovered the crystal’s power and kept it in Egypt, but why bring it to Hartswell-on-the-Hill?”
“This site has long been known to us as an energy centre of great power, a natural meridian where ley lines cross,” answered Viyesha. “It was for this reason that one of The Lunari built Hartswell Hall back in Victorian times. He had intended to live here with his wife, but she took her life before it was completed and he closed up the house, preferring to travel the world alone. He returned in recent times to live as a recluse, but ultimately chose to end his life. Without his wife, he saw eternal youth as a curse. We keep the crystal in the Clock Tower, where the energy is strongest.”
She paused for a moment before continuing.
“We stayed in Egypt for many years, but we have enemies and it was getting too dangerous. It was agreed we would come first to prepare the hall, and that Joseph would follow, bringing the crystal. We believed he journeyed in secrecy, but it would appear that old enemies of ours, The Reptilia or Dark Ones, desperate for the life form that the crystal would grant them, have discovered our location. Believe me, Emily, it is they rather than you, who presents the real threat. So far, we have protected the location of the crystal with our mist shroud, which the Dark Ones find impossible to penetrate, and Aquila and Pantera were able to destroy all those who congregated beyond the mist. But more will come, of that we are sure.”
”I see,” I said again, not seeing at all, but aware of other questions I needed to ask.
“What about your family, Viyesha? Is Leon as old as you? And are Violet and Theo your natural children?” That was a key question. I had to know whether I would be able to have my own children if I chose to join them.
“Leon and I have been together since the early days,” she answered. “I was a High Priestess and he was a Priest during the reigns of Akhenaten and Tutankhamun. After the murder of Tutankhamun, I renounced my religious vocation and went into hiding. Leon joined me later. Violet and Theo are our natural children. Light from light. Although they were not ready to bathe in the crystal’s rays until their teenage years.”
“And what about the others around the world who bathe in its light? The rich and famous people who’ve paid for the privilege? Where do they fit in?”
“Not all have paid, Emily. Some are family, some friends of many years’ duration. In recent years, The Lunari have allowed elite individuals to pay for the crystal’s services… those with a need for eternal youth, and the funds to buy it.”
“The mega-rich, you mean,” I said, disparagingly. Viyesha shrugged.
“It is The Lunari’s decision. They will only allow those whom they trust to join us. Any who compromise our safety are eliminated immediately.”
Her words were cold and an involuntary shudder ran down my spine.
“You must understand, Emily, The Lunari have one loyalty only, and that is to the crystal. Our survival is dependent upon it.” She paused. “Something else you should understand. Only the young can bathe in the crystal’s rays. Anyone older than mid thirties would not survive the process, their body chemistry is simply too compromised. I know you wanted us to save your grandfather, Theo pleaded with us, but believe me, it wasn’t possible.”
“I understand that now,” I said sadly. “But what about me, Viyesha? I’m not wealthy. I can’t pay. Why should The Lunari accept me?”
“I will intercede on your behalf, you can rest assured. My word carries much weight and these are exceptional circum
stances.”
In other words, my chances were good, but there were no guarantees. Neither was there any guarantee I would survive the initiation process.
“Do you have any more questions?” she asked gently.
I paused. “What happened to the estate agent who arranged the sale? Did she touch the crystal?”
Viyesha looked troubled. “No, she didn’t. The whole incident was unintentional and most regrettable. When we walked in that first time, the house came alive and our energy levels were activated. As she shook Leon’s hand, she absorbed some of the energy. It rejuvenated her for a few weeks, then proved too much for her.”
“But I had that same energy transference when I shook Theo’s hand,” I pointed out, “and I didn’t shrivel up and die.”
“I cannot explain what you experienced,” she admitted. “It is most unusual. Certainly Theo’s energy would not have been as powerful as Leon’s on the day we arrived here. But if you are truly Theo’s lost love, your energies will be in tune and there will always be a powerful connection between you.”
“How did Theo lose me, Viyesha? I have to know.”
She looked into the distance, deep in thought and I knew she was remembering. At last she spoke, “I cannot speak of it, Emily. You must not ask me. Theo will tell you when the time is right. And there is only one way to find out if you truly are his lost love…”
“…bathe in the crystal’s light,” I finished for her. “And if I survive, what are these supernatural powers you mentioned?”
“Heightened sensitivity, a greater appreciation of sight, sound, smell and touch, possibly special powers. No one knows until they have been through the process. Theo has the gift of speed, as you may have seen. I have the gift of serenity, Leon strength, and Joseph abundance. Violet has the gift of musicality and seeing auras.”
“I’d choose invisibility. Or flying.”
She smiled. “This isn’t Harry Potter, Emily. Who knows what your power may be? Now, time is getting on and you have much to think about.”
“One last question, Viyesha,” I said, plucking up courage. “Can I see the crystal?”
She gave a sharp intake of breath. “The crystal is very powerful, Emily, and the Clock Tower room has been attuned. It might not be safe for you. Should you decide to join us, we would have to dissipate the power of the crystal and the energy field.”
“So I wouldn’t have to wait for a Blue Moon?” I asked.
“Absolutely not,” Viyesha assured me. “The crystal’s power would be far too strong for a new initiate. A full moon is all you require.”
She sat in silence for a moment, considering her options, then made a decision.
“Come, I will take you to the Clock Tower and let you see the crystal. But I cannot allow you to enter the room. It is too risky.”
She led the way out of the library and I followed, knowing I was closing forever the option of living a normal life.
30. The Blue Crystal
Silently we climbed up the old servants’ stairway and onto the upper landing, and once again, I felt my feet sinking into the deep blue carpet.