Axel Light Trilogy: Wands and Shield

Chapter 20

Axel jolted and he opened his eyes. His heart was thumping wildly, and he was breathing unevenly. Beads of sweat were forming on his forehead. He was lying on the floor, Elliot was crouched next to him, looking worried. Maybe he had shouted out. He just noticed that he was shaking too. Elliot helped him to sit up.

'Bad dream?' asked Elliot nervously.

Elliot was used to his nightmares, but this time, it must be quite bad.

Axel just nodded shakily. He did not feel like talking about what he just saw in his dreams. He could not even speak.

'I'll get some water,' muttered Elliot and he left the tent with their empty water bottles.

Did he just witnessed how his parents were killed? Did it really happen? But the dream was so real. It did not feel like a dream. It felt like he was there when it happened.

But he was not at home when his parents were killed. How did the memories get into his dreams?

Elliot came back with their bottles filled up. Axel took his bottle and drank some water. He could see his bottle shaking with his hands. Elliot saw too, but he knew when not to ask questions. What Axel needed now was some quiet time to calm and collect himself.

Elliot bent down and picked the newspaper from the floor.

'Hey, it's your dad!' exclaimed Elliot pointing to a page.

Elliot sat in his bean bag and perused the newspaper.

'Look, they are going to do a feature on you too!' gasped Elliot in awe.

'Yeah, and we get to read that if we manage to survive a week here,' croaked Axel sarcastically.

Elliot smiled weakly at him. He continued to read the newspaper; grunting occasionally, laughed out loud once. After some calming time, Axel's breathing was getting regular, and his mind was clearer.

Was his dream triggered by the Ministry's symbol that he saw in the newspaper? Maybe it had stirred some lost memories.

The symbol – it must have something to do with his parents.

'I want to have a look at the Capitol,' said Axel after some deliberation, 'The symbol was on my letter. There must be some connections with my parents.'

Elliot looked up from the newspaper thoughtfully, and he nodded.

'If we want to go, it has to be today,' said Elliot, 'We can get some food on the way too.'

They packed their bags to bring along but left their tent intact. They walked back up the stream and onto Sirius Road. It seemed like it was after school as there were students heading back home, the same direction that they were walking. They blended in with them right away.

Axel wondered if Nelly was in the group of students. He glanced around but he did not spot anyone familiar. Some girls looked at him and he quickly looked away and pulled his cap down.

When they had reached Central Square, it was hustling and bustling. There were some stalls selling pies and tarts. They smelled so good that Axel could not help it but stopped to get some. Elliot dashed to the broom stand to check his broom.

'It's still there,' said Elliot, relieved.

'Don't worry,' Axel mumbled with his mouth full, 'Here, have a chicken pie.'

They munched on their pies and walked down Arcturus Road, which was the main road leading to the Capitol. This time, they crossed streets named after planets – Jupiter Street, Venus Lane, Neptune Street, Mercury Drive, Uranus Drive before finally branching out to Saturn Street where the Capitol Building was.