Axel Light Trilogy: Wands and Shield

Chapter 10-A

Axel was calm.

Even at the sight of the coffins, he was calm. Even when he was standing in front of the portraits of his parents, he was calm. He tried to be calm.

But when he saw their faces, he crumbled. Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably. His heart stopped and had gone cold; the more he could feel his key warm and throbbing on his chest. Everyone else in the funeral – the Greens and a few MaxPol; Linden, Stanley, Johnson while the rest were on guard at the doors or outside the building – were standing some distance from him, to give him some space.

Some alone time with his parents.

Axel took a deep breath in and out.

They looked peaceful.

Axel clutched at the two stalks of white roses that he was to place on their coffins. His mother liked roses. His father would always get a dozen of roses on her birthdays, as far as Axel could remember.

From now on, I'll get them for you. Both of you, whispered Axel in his heart as his eyes rested on his mother's face.

His key throbbed suddenly which caught him by surprised. Axel's eyes were still fixed on his mother's face, but his mind had gone wild.

Are you trying to tell me something, Mom? asked Axel, his heart racing.

Axel froze on the spot, staring at his mother. He could feel something creeping up his veins, in his brain, on his skin. Maybe he had imagined it, as he was really hoping that his mother was trying to tell him something.

Anything.

He heard some murmurs behind him. He must had been motionless for too long, they were getting worried. His key had suddenly felt cold.

'Axel...'

He heard a distant voice calling him. But it was not his Mom's or Dad's voice. He would wait, patiently. Until one of them talked to him.

He had all the time.

'Axel.'

He stared at his mother – it was not her voice.

'Come... home...'

'Home?' asked Axel, surprised.

'AXEL!'

That was Linden's voice, loud and clear.

'Take him out of here, NOW!'

Someone grabbed his arms. He dropped the two stalks of roses on the ground, and he wanted to pick them up.

He must put the flowers in their coffins! thought Axel bewilderedly.

'Axel, you need to get out of here,' said Stanley urgently, one hand gripping at Axel's arm tightly while the other holding a wand out.

Axel turned to look at Stanley, angry. Angry that he was disturbed from his last moments with his parents. He wanted to hear what they had to tell him. Johnson was gripping at his other arm. He turned to look at Johnson – she was staring at his parents' portrait, or rather, right above them.

There were some words, floating above their portrait.

Floating?

Axel shut his eyes and opened them again.

Floating words and on fire.

Axel, come home.

'Home...' muttered Axel, 'Mom... Dad...'

Suddenly, the portraits were on fire. Axel took a sharp intake of breath and his heart stopped. Gasped could be heard. Then shouts.

'Get him out!'

Axel wrenched his arms from Stanley and Johnson's grips – they were distracted by the sudden fire. He rushed towards his Mom and Dad. He must save them from the fire!

But before he could reach their portraits, Axel was held back by many hands.

'Please! Let me go!' cried Axel desperately, clambering away from the hands, 'Please!'

'Your security had been breached, you need to leave now,' said Linden grimly, a hand firmly on Axel and a wand pointing at him, 'I will bring you away from here.'

'NO! I want to stay with Mom and Dad! They asked me to come home... with them...' sobbed Axel, breaking down – his heart was stabbing at him.

His key – something was happening to it. He could feel it throbbing and getting warm and cold interchangeably.

'Listen to me!' seethed Linden, 'They want you to live! They would not want you to jump into the fire or join them in their graves!'

Axel shook his head bitterly at Linden, 'You don't understand! Mom is trying to tell me something!'

Linden looked at him disturbingly, 'We don't have time for this. Your safety is our priority. Stanley, come with me. Johnson, guide the Greens to safety.'

Linden and Stanley dragged Axel out of the funeral hall and marched to the gates with Axel between them. There were MaxPol guarding the pathway and the gates, pointing their wands out. A MaxPol, Axel recognised as Monsford, whom he had met at Million Wands, was at the gates. He gave Linden a nod and they had Translocated.