He handed her the book, open to the page. ‘Simple. Read the words, and think about your Mum. Also, hold my hand.’
He held out his dirt-stained fingers and she made a face, then let her hand rest on his. He closed around it, squeezing it tight and she had to work hard to not pull away. She read, sounding each word out carefully. Surely they just made it up as they went along, this was complete gibberish.
The sage was lit, and the room filled with a nose-itching tang that made her fidget. A light came up from the floor, like the dodgy sunken spots they had in clubs. It grew stronger, until the entire room was glowing, pale blue. It was getting more like a club every second. She half expected to be barged in the back by some cow with a beer and a glow stick, then she squeezed her eyes closed as it became brighter still.
‘Step forward, Scarlet, step through the light.’
His voice was different, stronger, clearer, and she moved as he told her, nervous steps until the soft carpet vanished and she heard the click of her shoes on stone. The light went, just like that, and she blinked, looked around, and yelped.
They were in a valley. Sharp slopes of stone, dotted with dull scrubby bushes rose on both sides. She shivered. Why the bloody hell hadn’t she brought a coat? The path they stood on looked like something out of a Tim Burton movie, winding and sunken, and heading into the gloom of the narrowing canyon. The sky above was the same colour as the floor, and felt just as close.
She sniffed. There was a smell she couldn’t place. Something like the Chem labs at school, only with the vaguest hint of cheap perfume. So just like the labs then. She turned and jumped again.
His raggedy clothes were gone, replaced by dark, rich leather that fit like a glove. Her worst fears were true. He was buff, like, really hot. His hair was tousled and disturbingly well-cut. ‘Who are you?’
He chuckled. ‘You’ve already asked me that. My name is—‘
‘Martin, but you can call me sugarplum, blah blah, yeah, you already said that too. OK, what are you?’
He smiled. ‘A better question. I help people, people in the kind of trouble your Mum is in, stuff the police can’t help with.’
‘Why?’
The smile left his face as he shook his head. ‘Some things are best left alone.’
She folded her arms, and stared at him. He stared right back, and she blushed. ‘OK, fine, fair enough. So why did you need me, I mean, couldn’t you just do this yourself?’
He nodded. ‘I could, but what would you have learnt?’
‘Oh for fu—‘
‘Life is growth, Scarlet, growth and change. You mother changed, not so long ago, and found a new life for herself. It was one she didn’t want to share with you, for fear of what it might lead to. Was she right?’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t know. From my experience, the unknown can be far more dangerous than a little knowledge, if that knowledge is taught correctly. You have power, just like your mother, and you needed to be introduced to it.’ He smiled. ‘And, after all, it is your Mum.’
She looked at the floor, then back at him, and nodded. ‘Yeah, guess so. OK, what now?’
He motioned past her down the path. She turned, and sighed. It was dark, the path winding out of sight as the cliffs closed in, and the very sight of it made her shudder. Things never went well in places like this. He set off and she hurried to keep up, falling into step beside him. As the path grew narrow, he slowed, letting her take the lead. Oh joy.
Next instalment: Wednesday 23 October
