The Promise (The Seekers Book 1) Page 3

  “Quark is not a thing, he’s a ... he’s a ... actually I don’t understand what he is, but he’s a very nice ...”

  “Exactly! He could be some kind of Alien. You did say it was dangerous.”

  Damn, meant to leave that bit out.

  “Please Olly,” Millie suddenly realised she had used his childhood nickname; “I’m still here aren’t I? Have I got two heads or gone green? Besides he wants to speak to you.”

  Oliver bit his lip, “You say he knew my name too?”

  “He wants to see both of us, together.”

  That did it. Oliver was naturally more cautious, but as twins they had always known when the other one needed them.

  “So how do we get to this Portal? Do we have to wait until its dark again?”

  “Nope. Quark told me what to do with the guiding light, we can go now.”

  Oliver hesitated, “Won’t mum miss us? I mean it’s nearly tea time and she goes ballistic if we are late.”

  Millie took the crystal out of her pocket, “Nah ... time is suspended in a Portal – we won’t be gone at all!”

  7

  Millie held the crystal tightly and repeated the words Quark had given her, she was supposed to picture Quark in her mind and concentrate, but all she could think about was whether she had to hold Oliver’s hand or something daft like that. Incredibly the transfer felt even more intense this time. Adrenaline rush or what? Oliver wore a slightly dazed expression and Millie wondered if she had looked like that the first time. Everything was exactly as she remembered it, but there was no Quark. Oliver ran his hand through his hair; he did that before exams and things so Millie knew he was nervous.

  “Well here we are then.” she announced, somewhat louder than she intended. Where was Quark?

  Oliver was fascinated by the room, “Is this place moving? Do you think we are in space?”

  “And you expect me to know because ...”

  Oliver was surprised at her unusually harsh tone, “Okay, I was only thinking out loud, so where is he?”

  This was ridiculous. He had made all that fuss about fetching Oliver and now he wasn’t here. What was the point in standing in an empty portal and how long should they wait? As if in answer a small shape began to materialise in mid air. Quark lingered there for a few seconds with that inscrutable look on his face, and then slowly came to rest near Oliver.

  Again he bowed, “Forgive me Your Highnesses, I was delayed.”

  “We can see that.” Millie blurted out without a trace of irony.

  Quark continued, “Greetings Oliver, it is good to see you again.”

  Oliver was bemused, what did he mean again? But before he could say anything Quark turned and bowed to Millie.

  “Oh, do get up Quark.” She was quite embarrassed by this little mannerism. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

  He was positively beaming! “Not coming? I was with you all the time.” He pointed to a circular opening in the wall, which definitely hadn’t been there before. “Shall we go?”

  Oliver found his voice at last, but it was squeakier than usual, “Er, through to where?”

  “Why the next level of course, no point in hanging around here.” He started to walk towards the opening and Oliver started to follow.

  “Wait a minute, what level, where?” Millie could not believe Oliver was being so rash.

  Quark tapped the tips of his fingers together and explained patiently, “Your Highness, this place is like a bus stop on your world. Would you entertain your friends at a bus stop?”

  It was so ludicrously honest Millie walked into the opening too.

  The walk in the tunnel turned into a walk in the park and they emerged into stunning countryside. In the distance were gently rolling green hills, but directly in front of them was a most magnificent waterfall. It seemed to tumble from nowhere and Millie couldn’t even see the top! Sparkling white water cascaded vertically from a sheer drop, but dropped gently into the pale blue river at the bottom. How could that be? Even though it fell hundreds of feet to the riverbed there was very little noise. Mille could feel a gentle mist in the air but her clothes were not damp. This was not your normal waterfall.

  Millie looked along the river and stood open mouthed at the splendour of the place. Down both sides of the river were trees of such indescribable beauty Millie found herself drawn towards them. Each tree was different to its neighbour. Millie had no idea there were so many different types of tree, or shades of green. The leaves were remarkable. Not only did they sway gently in the mist, but as Millie concentrated she was convinced individual leaves changed colour. Some were the colours of autumn, others shades and hues Millie did not even recognise.

  Oliver too was enthralled, he touched the nearest tree trunk and withdrew his hand quickly – the tree was warm! At his feet was a carpet of emerald. It was perfect! He knelt down and stroked it. It was cool and sparkled with dew, but his hand and trainers were dry. “Wow – dad would love this.”

  Oliver got the job of mowing the lawns now he was older and he had a new love/hate relationship with grass and weeds.

  Quark bustled past him. “Oh, we have no need of those here.”

  How did he do that?

  “Follow me.” He instructed briskly and walked straight into the nearest tree and disappeared!

  The twins looked at each other for the briefest of seconds, and then Quark was back. “Well what are you waiting for?”

  Millie pointed to the tree and frowned, “Can we ... do... that?”

  “Of course. I am Quark - that which is not, so that that which is can be. And you are the Seeker.”

  Millie grinned, took a deep breath and walked into a tree.

  8

  “What? They can’t do that to me!” Jamie threw the letter down in disgust and nearly pulled the fridge door off its hinges. He grabbed a beer and as he yanked the tab a fine mist sprayed the kitchen. Winston padded over to the drops and licked them up eagerly. Sarah wiped the spray from the cling film covering the salad, “Hey, mind. I don’t think the kids like Stella. What’s up?”

  Jamie scowled as Sarah carried on marinating the chicken in their favourite peri-peri sauce. He took another gulp from the tin. “It’s the Council. I’d heard rumours, but I guess I hoped they would go away.” Sarah washed her hands and dried them on the towel, “What about them?”

  “They want to sell that piece of land behind us to developers, for building houses or something. Anyway, they are giving all the shops on that row notice on their leases. The Noah’s Ark will have to close!”

  Sarah reached up to hug his strong neck with her tiny hands, her man mountain was a real softie at heart. He tried his best to smile but his heart was not in it.

  “I’m really sorry Jay, have you spoken to the others? Maybe you can appeal or something. You know these things can take ages.”

  Jamie sighed, “Well my lease is up for renewal in three months and they say I have to be out.”

  Sarah took a sip from his can and handed it back, “Well that’s not fair. You are the only pet supplier for miles around, that’s why we moved here.”

  “I know sweetheart, all that research eh?” Jamie smiled at the memory of his interview with the bank manager.

  “Well surely that must stand for something? You have made a go of it and you are making a profit in this present recession.” Sarah slammed the oven door and set the timer.

  Jamie was thinking, “The problem is all the livestock, I can’t simply put them in storage like fixtures and fittings.”

  He started to set the table for tea, “Maybe I could go to Citizens Advice and ask them.”

  Sarah did her best to encourage him, “We will manage Jay, we always have. Probably best not to say anything to the kids just yet though, they actually like school here.”

  Jamie nodded, but he wasn’t really listening.

  9

  “They have The Orb, My Lord.”

  Samael braced himself, but the spoken words of the Mast
er still rooted him to the spot, the undercurrents grating at the very centre of his being.

  “Have they met with HIM yet?”

  He kept his eyes down, “Our sources report they are there now.”

  A sneer. “So, after all this time the fools will lead us right to it. Do not alert them to our presence but do not lose them either. You know what this means to me.”

  Samael was dismissed and backed away as protocol dictated, eyes firmly fixed on the floor. He felt the familiar fear and loathing fall away and he was glad to be back in the relative safety of the outer courtyard. Now he, in turn, would summon others to do his bidding. He could sense hundreds of eyes upon him, all quivering at the opportunity to return to the world of men. How many assignments had he completed? He had stopped counting for the game was endless. Except they all knew it wasn’t.

  10

  Millie didn’t really know what she expected to find inside a tree, but definitely not this. They had entered a cavernous space and the floor was paved with gold. The walls were hung with banners and studded with precious stones. They reminded Millie of the mosaics they had made in primary school, but she supposed these were for real. The ceiling was so high their footsteps echoed. Daylight streamed through long, arched windows and the light was so powerful a gentle kaleidoscope of colour drifted across the floor. It was mesmerising.

  Engraved into the golden covering was a large, six pointed star and at the apex of each point was a throne. Not that either of them had ever seen a throne close up before, but what else could they be? Ornate, regal and floating!

  Millie noticed some strange writing inside the star, but she did not recognise the language. Meanwhile Oliver was preoccupied with a display of weaponry set high on an adjacent wall. Surely those swords were too big for any human to wield? The twins were just too stunned to speak which was probably just as well, Quark was not bustling about as usual but standing perfectly still in the centre of the star. He was waiting. They drew next to him.

  A trumpet sounded. It was the sweetest music Millie had ever heard. It was a haunting melody and the notes became part of her. They rose and fell like a million butterflies across her soul. She was not aware of closing her eyes, but when she opened them, the music stopped.

  The six thrones were now occupied and Quark was lying prostrate on the floor, his little arms stretched out on either side of him. Instinctively Millie reached for Oliver’s hand. Directly in front of her was the most beautiful man Millie had ever seen. He wore a plain white robe with a bright red cloak and his feet were bare. His hair was long and luxurious and a shade of auburn any television advert would be proud of! His eyes were a sparkling brown and they contained the warmth of his smile. He was looking at Quark. “Rise faithful one. How goes it with you?”

  Quark scrambled to his feet, “All is well. I am content now the first stage is complete.”

  The man looked straight at Millie and she thought she would faint. “Welcome to the Council of the Domains. We have been looking forward to meeting you both, but forgive me; you must be in need of refreshment. I imagine all this must be something of a shock.”

  He spoke kindly and they watched in amazement as a banquet materialised on a long table, draped in white, complete with two floating blobs for chairs. “Please, be seated and help yourselves to anything you wish.”

  Oliver quickly let go of Millie’s hand, lowering himself onto one of the chairs he tried something from the nearest dish. The small purple berry looked quite natural but the taste gently exploded in his mouth then resonated through his entire being. He wasn’t conscious of chewing it but it seemed to have nourished him in a completely new way. He tried again.

  The beautiful man smiled. “Good. All is good, yes?”

  Oliver nodded. Millie couldn’t speak yet either.

  He laughed, “My name is Michael. I am the Guardian for your Domain. I trust Quark has explained the situation to you?”

  Quark took a step towards Millie, “The Seeker is willing.”

  Michael did not introduce the other members of the Council but he scanned the room for their acknowledgement. Each in turn gave a small, almost imperceptible, nod. No one spoke.

  Oh heck. Millie found her voice at last, “I don’t really know what you want or how to get it, but I’ll do my best.”

  Michael stood and at that point Millie realised he must be at least ten feet tall! He moved purposefully towards her and looked down at her, taking his time to read her eyes. Millie felt herself beginning to drift, somewhere, and just for a second everything seemed to make sense. But only for a second.

  His voice was still authoritative, but now she could detect a hint of gentleness. “You are the Seeker. We can assist you Millie but we cannot directly interfere against the will of men. We are restricted to the old order until the Times are fulfilled. Your choosing brings many blessings but also many dangers. There are others who desire the Cornerstone for their own evil purposes. They are not to be trusted at any time.”

  Millie could not maintain the eye contact; she sat down next to Oliver but wasn’t interested in the food. Why was Oliver eating like that anyway?

  Oliver paused long enough to ask the obvious question “So why is it so important then?”

  Michael continued, “Long ago, before time began, Yes Oliver that is something else you will come to understand, the created elements were contained within The One and the Universes were born. All was well for many generations until dark forces desired to overthrow the established Order, desiring power instead of service. It is an old truth, one repeated many times throughout your lands and your times. Even children are no strangers to the horrors of war. Following catastrophic events the Universes became fractured and the unity among the Domains was lost. The dark forces were defeated, but alas only for a season, and even now they are scattered throughout the Domains. Their hope is to reunite, but so far we have managed to prevent that.”

  Oliver had picked up a large yellow fruit but he put it down, puzzled, “You said –“universes” – is that where we are now, in a different universe to our own?”

  Michael smiled, “There are many dimensions to the universes but this is higher than all of them. You have much to learn young Oliver, but something tells me you will enjoy doing so.”

  Millie decided to butt in before young Oliver stole anymore of Michael’s attention, “So how many are there exactly?” she asked cheekily.

  The sound of laughter echoed throughout the room and Michael exchanged a knowing look with the other members of the Council. “Behold – The Seven Domains of IAM.”

  He swept his arm over her and Millie was held spellbound by a vision of swirling planets, stars and galaxies that seemed to extend forever. Focussing on any one planet opened up others beyond it and Millie soon realised she could navigate her own pathway through the stars! When she moved her eyes quickly, thousands, possibly millions, of stars streamed past, but if she chose to examine one feature it would come closer and she could see the surface in exquisite detail. Each was as beautiful and spectacular as the last. There was no end.

  Millie did not know how long she gazed but eventually the vision faded. Michael put his hand on her shoulder, “It never fails to fill me with wonder too. If it helps you, think of it like the pages of a book. Your entire experience may be limited to page one when you start, but there is much more to explore.”

  “You mean like dad’s silver bills?”

  Millie shot Oliver a cynical look, “What do you mean?”

  Oliver got up from the table at last, finally satisfied, “Well they can go up and down in the cage, but not in the room, or in the street...”

  “Yeah, yeah, I get it.” This was way too theoretical for Millie.

  But Oliver was on a roll, “And the book is only one of many isn’t it?”

  Michael nodded at Oliver’s observations and moved to stand next to Quark; they made a strange pair the powerful Prince and the small Companion. “But we can only do our own part, whateve
r that may be.”

  As if some secret signal had passed between them the other Council members filed out of the room, each bowing to Michael as they passed and leaving something in a golden bowl on the table. They moved gracefully and silently, only stopping to add to the contents, or to pat Quark on the shoulder as they passed. It was impossible to say how old they were, for they carried themselves with the dignity of age and wisdom but their features were young and powerful. Each of their coloured robes had shone with an unusual brightness and the room was now colder for their absence. Michael seemed to feel it too as he wrapped his own cloak tighter around himself and returned to his throne.