Hunting For The Sun

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Home Sweet Home

Like I said, I can´t recall precisely how long it took us to get back. All I know is that by the time Skye leapt to her feet and cried out `Land!´ I was bled totally dry, tired beyond my wits and dying of exposure. I lolled in the bottom of the boat, holding the blankets around my body and coughing frequently. All the warming charms had done very little to help. Oddly, Skye seemed to be alright. Still, the thought of how the Muggles intended to survive on these things without all the benefits we´d had plagued me. I gazed up at the sky through dull eyes, pondering all this.

`Rae! We´ve made it!´ she cried, shaking me. `That´s Aberdeen up ahead!´

I rolled over onto my knees and looked up. There was the coast, backed by rolling mountains and with a dark patch that had to be the city nestling right in front of us.

It was like one of those moments in a movie, you know, where the orchestra starts playing and a shaft of sunlight breaks the clouds....

But there was no orchestra, just the sea, sloshing away. No sun broke the clouds, because there weren´t any. Almost like a record grinding to a halt.

But all the same, we packed up as far forward in the little dinghy as we could without it tipping over, and gazed excitedly at the nearing coastline. All of my woes seemed forgotten in the face of a city and a nice warm bed. I prudently removed the charm from the boat and rowed us back in past the Death Eater customs filter. The Wizard put his foot against the side of the boat as we slowed, and bent down to check us.

`We were shipwrecked,´ I told him.

`Were you?´ he asked, checking through the boxes.

`Yes,´ I said firmly.

`Haven´t heard of any shipwrecks,´ he said, raising his eyebrows.

I made a face. `Well, that´s not exactly true,´ I said. `We jumped ship.´

He glanced at me and went back to the crates. `That´s frowned upon, you know,´ he said.

`I know, but we had to do it. We were going to be executed by the rebels for being Death Eaters, so we jumped ship,´ I lied.

He gave me an appraising look, but said nothing.

`We wanted to join the war!´ I lied profusely.

He stopped checking.

`Do you need a place to stay until the garrison departs?´ he asked, all polite now.

`Yes, please,´ I said. `We´ve been at sea for many, many days and we´re ill.´

`I recommend the Red Lion on Donnclydhe Street,´ he said, straightening and giving us a little push to the docks. `And miss, I think you need to see a doctor. You aren't looking so good.´

`Thanks,´ Skye nodded, paddling us right into the bustling dock and lashing our tiny vessel to one of the massive iron studs poking out of the concrete dock. I scrambled out of the boat and wobbled a little before stretching myself out and jogging on the spot to loosen my limbs. The sun was hot on my face, and we had made it all the way across the Baltic, despite all the danger. We were back in the United Kingdom, and I couldn´t have been happier. All I needed now was Draco...

Skye hefted the box that contained the bats up and passed it to me. I folded the lid tightly shut and held it securely in my arms. Skye gathered the last of our possessions and climbed out of the boat, but not after hexing it so that it couldn´t be stolen.

`I fancy ice cream,´ she announced as we walked along the dock, dodging sailors.

`Me too,´ I said, surprised. I hated ice cream.

We bantered and laughed as we made our way up the steps and into the city. I was grinning despite myself, and had to agree when Skye suggested getting a proper lunch. We sat at some tables in a little café, and I rested my feet on top of the bat-box as we waited to be served.

I can´t remember how much we ate that day, but I know it was more than enough to feed an army. The only problem came with the bill.

`That´ll be nineteen Galleons,´ the waiter said politely.

Skye blushed and started to go through our bags. I knew for sure that I didn´t have more than three Galleons in my luggage, probably less.

`Rae, how much have you got?´ Skye asked me desperately, a blush rising in her cheeks.

`Three Galleons, maybe two,´ I answered uncomfortably.

She swore. `I´ve only got five,´ she whispered.

`Is there some kind of problem, ladies?´ the waiter asked coldly.

`No,´ Skye answered quickly. `Could you just give us a moment?´

`Of course,´ he said snootily and walked away.

`Run,´ Skye muttered.

`What are we...?´

But Skye had already jumped up and run for it. I snatched the bat-box and hopped out from behind my table, desperately trying not to trip over. I followed the stream of white hair until we became packed into a crowd and I could see no more. I bounced on the balls of my feet, peering over the heads of the people, but I still saw nothing. It was time to melt into the crowd. I was good at that. I assumed a look of business-like importance and walked as though I knew where I was going. I heard shouts behind me from the restaurant, but I didn´t dare to glance back. In the end, the compulsion to do so was so strong that it began to hurt my neck, so I risked a quick glance. The waiter was shouting to the other customers and pointing at our vacated table.

I patted my pockets and found some sunglasses. I unfolded them with one hand and slipped them on. The box could easily have been a give-away. I shrank it magically and shoved it into my pocket. As I was walking, I plaited my hair and rolled it into a tight bun on the back of my head. I snatched a stick out of some kind of gardening display and rammed it through the bun to hold it in place. Good and altered. On an afterthought, I took off my flying jacket and tied it around my waist by the sleeves. Excellent. Now I just needed to find Skye.

I couldn´t see her, but then if I couldn´t see her, then they wouldn´t either. I tried to keep that in mind to quell my mounting panic. But I guess it wasn´t the first time I was alone and illegal in a big unfamiliar city. Far from it.

So I just kept walking. I walked and walked. I just followed the main flow of the crowd and pretended to be sightseeing. I used one of my last three Galleons to buy a camera, and pretended to take photos. Really, I saved them up in case they would be useful. The heat grew until it was so mild that it was almost warm. I was sweating and tired and aching, my claustrophobia was kicking in and I was more than a little scared. It was okay to run away from Skye when she was a baddie, but now I realised how much I needed her and how useful she actually was.

The city began to grow darker. The people dispersed, and restaurants opened. Candles could be seen on the tables of the little houses, but it was dark out. A cold wind began to drive up through the city and I had to put my coat back on. The gas lamps in the street flickered magically into life and the milky pools of light dissected the palpable blackness. I rubbed my arms and looked around, my eyes wide to catch what little light was left. I didn´t want to keep moving, but I knew that I really had to. I could lose her completely. I put my back against a wall and sank down to the ground to think.

My mind refused to clear, so I just sat there, breathing calmly and trying to gather myself. As I did this, I heard laughter off outside the light. My head snapped upright and I looked around intently, eyes narrowed.

`Who´s there?´ I snapped, putting my hands on the floor and preparing to stand up. All the while, my mind was subconsciously reviewing the situation. I could count at least five different voices out in the darkness.

`Show yourselves!´ I shouted.

`Oh, I don´t know,´ a silky, female voice replied. `What if we´re a sight you don´t want to behold?´

`I´ll run the risk,´ I said darkly, wrapping my hand around my gun.

There was a short silence, and it seemed that I had cut off their hyena cackling for a while. Then a pale patch appeared in the dark and a girl stepped slowly into the light. She had dark blond hair, bound into a plait at the nape of her neck and covered on the scalp by one of those bandanna things made from dark brown cloth. Her eyes were glinting dangerously and she shifted her wide black belt around the low slung waist of her baggy combats. She snapped her fingers, and the rest of them revealed themselves, standing just within reach of the light. There was a lot more than five. Maybe twenty people stood there, surrounding me completely. She crossed the intervening space and walked around me, a nasty smirk playing about her lips.

Without a word, she turned to face the others.

`Well, what do you think?´ she asked, spreading her arms. I took the opportunity.

`Pretty little thing,´ someone murmured, just as I slammed the barrel of my gun against the back of her head. She crumpled to the ground, and the rest of them leapt back in surprise. I jerked the box out of my pocket and restored it, freeing the vampires. They transformed immediately, diving on various people and helping me out greatly.

I kept my back to the wall, not wanting anyone to get the same idea as I had. I shot down two of them as they advanced on me. Another came up against the wall, but I heard him and spun to kick him in the face. They all began to get a little close for comfort, so I pushed off the wall and ran into open space, shooting wildly. I realised that I wouldn´t be able to hold the remaining ten or so off with just a gun. It felt far too light already. I shot down a girl with a curtain of slivery blond hair as she raised a noose over my head, then aimed at a burly boy who was creeping up on Persephone. I pulled the trigger, and nothing happened. There was a feeble little clicking noise, but no bang. The last seven turned gleefully and ran at me. I backed up, my heart thundering in my ears and pounding a pulse to the back of my vision. I could see my heart beating.

I clenched my fist and dropped the gun on the ground. I would have to fetch it later. Ori threw himself at a fat bloke and broke his neck with a precise twist. Persephone gouged the throat out of another and licked the blood off her own skin. I whipped out a dagger from my boot and ran towards a girl, kicked her in the stomach to lift me off the ground, stepped onto her shoulder, spun, kicked her in the head and cut her throat.

At this point, I have to accuse Draco of tampering. He even owned up to it, for once.

I kicked one more in the neck when he came to rescue the girl, and when I looked up, Perse and Ori had made short work of the other three. I dropped to the ground and snared my gun from the floor. I snapped it open and refilled it from my pocket. Perse wiped her mouth on her sleeve and picked her way through the bodies to where I stood.

`What the hell happened?´ she gasped, clutching her chest and wheezing for breath.

`They just appeared. Thanks for the help,´ I panted.

`I was hungry,´ she shrugged. `Thanks for the meal.´

I shuddered, and walked over to where Ori was having an after-feast cigarette.

`Nice to see you,´ he commented lightly, blowing smoke out of his nose.

`Yeah, always a pleasure,´ I grinned. I was proud despite myself.

`I may have to rethink you,´ he said, giving me a long look. `You aren´t as frigid as I thought.´

I didn´t really know what to say to that, so I pretended that I hadn´t heard.

`Shit, that one´s still alive,´ Perse said, pointing at the girl I had knocked out right at first. The girl was shifting dazedly and coughing.

`We need to take her with us,´ I said hoarsely. `We can´t leave her here.´

`We can´t stay here,´ Ori added. `We need to get out before we´re seen, and where´s Skye?´

`She ran off when we stole something. I couldn´t find her,´ I told them.

`There are only a few places to go. We´ll catch her up,´ Perse said confidently.

`Do you know these places?´ I asked her.

`No. Never been to Edinburgh,´ she said. I shook my head in despair.

`Ori, carry that girl,´ I instructed, standing up straight. To my surprise, he nodded and stamped out his cigarette before hefting her onto his shoulder and walking off. I followed him, and Perse went behind me.

To tell you the truth, I was scared. Not only was I a robber in this town, a daylight robber, I was now a murderer as well, a mass murderer. Talk about unwelcome.

`So where are we going?´ I asked.

`Um, I don´t know,´ Perse replied. `Ori?´

He shrugged. `Never been here,´ he told us.

`Me neither,´ I frowned. `What are we going to do?´

`Ask someone?´ Perse suggested, straightening her robes.

`Yeah,´ Ori laughed. `Excuse me, but we were wondering if there was anywhere we could hide because we´ve murdered nineteen people and need a shower. Hardly.´

`No, she´s got an idea,´ I shook my head. `I´ll ask Draco.´

`Um, kid, Draco´s not here,´ Ori pointed out.

`I know!´ I snapped. `Just... leave me to it.´

He shrugged and lit up another fag, blowing the smoke up at the deep purple sky.

Draco?

What?

I need your help.

Now THERE´S a surprise.

Draco.

Sorry.

We´re in Edinburgh.

... And?

Well, we need somewhere to go. You said that you were the guy to consult on this matter.

Sorry. Never been to Edinburgh.

Draco!

I can´t help you, I´m sorry. This must be one where you have to work it out yourself. If I´m not mistaken, you´ll be meeting a new group member tonight.

I gave the girl slung over Ori´s shoulder a doubtful look.

Maybe, I said doubtfully.

Anyway, I´m sorry, but there´s nothing I can do.

Love you.

Love you too. Bye.

I bit my lip.

`We´re buggered,´ I told them.

`What?´

`Well, he doesn´t know anything.´

`You mean we´re stuck?´

`Apparently, we have to ask her,´ I said, pointing at the limp form sprawled across Ori´s shoulder.

Perse didn´t bother answering. She just raised an eyebrow.

`Don´t ask me!´ I said defensively. `It´s what Draco said!´

`Whatever,´ she said, spreading her hands. `Whatever.´

I went to the girl and poked her in the stomach. She curled slightly.

`Are you awake?´ I asked her.

`I am now,´ she said groggily. `What´d you hit me with?´

`My fist,´ I lied.

`Bloody hell,´ she exclaimed roughly, raising a hand to the back of her head. Ori put her down on the floor and she sat up.

`What´s your name?´ I asked, kneeling down.

`Adura,´ she answered, still rubbing her head. `Where did all the others go?´

`We killed most of them,´ Ori told her, grinning.

To my surprise and relief, she laughed. `Thank the gods! I hated the lot of them.´

`Good,´ I said. `Listen, I´m Rae, this is Ori and Persephone. Are you in the prophecy?´

Her eyes took on a suspicious look, and she checked around us. `What do you know about that?´

`I´m in it,´ I said. `We all are.´

`Not a word,´ she hissed, grabbing my arm and using it to pull herself up. `Follow me.´

I frowned, but allowed myself to be led down an alley and through a cellar stinking of beer and stale sweat.

`You can´t say that you´re involved,´ she told us quietly. `It´s dangerous. These people think that we´ll destroy the world.´

`I´ve met them,´ I said darkly. `Are they after you?´

`Yes. All of the Dark Order in the city who believe in it are trying to kill me.´

`The Light order are trying to kill me,´ I said.

`They´re trying to get the Dark girl - you? -- to come and rule them,´ she said.

`Same with you,´ I nodded. `They were trying to throw me off a building, but it didn´t work.´

`It wouldn´t,´ she agreed. `Thing is, I still don´t know where my guardian is.´

`You seem to know plenty about this,´ I noted.

`I...´ She shook her head. `I´m sorry, I can´t explain.´

And I had to content myself with just nodding. There was no point in making her do it. She didn´t want to. It just burned at me, though. I was desperate to know why I had known nothing and she knew all of this. Not fair. She hadn´t even found her guardian!

`Hey, we were looking for you and your guardian in the Light Temple. My guardian and...´ What was Raven´s part in this? `Well, they said that that´s where you were.´

`Maybe that´s where the guardian is,´ she said, her eyes flashing with enthusiasm.

`Maybe,´ I said doubtfully.

`Look, I know you didn´t really want to meet me. To be honest, I didn´t want to meet you. I know that I´m going to die at the end of this. You are too. That´s what we´re for. All of you. The guardian, the killer, the protector, the truth and the friend. We all have to die. That´s what we were chosen for. Have you noticed that nearly all of us are recklessly brave or have so little that life means nothing?´

When she said it, it seemed to hit me a little. I had nothing, Draco had never wanted to live in the first place, Raven was obsessed with death, Skye had already told me what she was willing to do, Cloud would do anything for me and Alethea was dying anyway. We all had nothing but each other. Now there were nine of us, and we all had nothing. All of us lived in gutters until I came along.

But why was it me? Why did I gather these people?

Because I was the worst of them all. I had the very least and didn´t care about anything...

But that was changing now. And all I cared about had just been classed as doomed.

Now that´s a good way to get my confidence up.