The Might of Evil Dreams (A Novel of the Elemental Chronicles)

Twenty-Five - Demons On the Doorstep

Emmeline

The first night of Tom's absence was a sleepless one. I fretted and worried, biting down my nails until they bled. It spread to my children, and they responded accordingly. Rosina cried, non-stop from seven o'clock to half-past ten, and nothing I could do would make her stop. It was only when she was too exhausted to continue that she fell silent. Next came Phil, who had never been good under stress — he alternated between the runs and spitting up, and I worried he was losing his fluids much more rapidly than we could get them in. Then last there was Eddie, who reverted to his babyish state and constantly begged for me to pick him up. I could, but only for a moment. I heard Rosina begin to wail, and the cycle started all over again.

All the while I thought of Tom and prayed, to whatever God would listen. I implored Him to bring my husband home to me unscathed, and to spare his life. If He was merciful, my prayers would be answered in three nights' time.

It was only after Mrs Shute took the boys and Peggy took Rosina, to allow me some rest, that my thoughts began to wander. I remembered Tom reading Dr Braithwaite's journal, his brow furrowing and his free hand clenching into a fist. I knew why — among the many things I'd told Braithwaite, the one thing that seemed to disturb him the most was the cruelty of my captors. They'd kept me locked up, half-starved and half-dressed, and beat me mercilessly. Given half a chance and a gun, I knew Tom would kill them all. That was what frightened me the most. My husband, a soldier numbed by death.

Mrs Shute brought my sons back to me an hour and a half later, and something must have told her I hadn't slept, because after setting them both in the middle of the bed and telling them to stay there, she joined me at the window. I'd begun to gnaw at my cuticles, and when she spoke, it startled me so much I tore a shred off and it began to bleed.

"Everything all right, milady?"

"It seems that is to be determined, Mrs Shute." I folded my bleeding finger into my fist, my muscles weak from being clenched constantly. "How are the boys?"

"Know somethin' is wrong, but they can't be sure." She took my fist in both her hands. "His Lordship's a smart man, he is, milady. He'll be just fine."

"I'll believe you when he's home safely," I said, rubbing my temple hard. A pulse pounded there at all hours now, from my sleeplessness and worry. And the children's response to it only compounded it.

Towards the end of the third day, when I'd finally had enough and enlisted Johnny to help me as well, we heard pounding hoofbeats coming up the drive. Immediately relief surged through me. My prayers had been answered.

I gave Eddie the book we were reading, and he continued to leaf through it happily while I went to answer the door. I could almost feel Tom's arms around me, and his rough cheek, always a little bit unshaven, against mine.

But I didn't find Tom on our doorstep. Instead it was three men, all built like bears, dressed completely in black. Two of them held long gleaming swords that hummed with a golden energy. The third stepped towards me, into the light, and my heart stuttered. After three years, I was once again looking right into the face of my tormentor. His one solid golden eye gleamed under his bi-corn hat, and his gold teeth sparked from behind his beard.

"Hello there, milady," he said, the voice straight from my nightmares. "I was wondering when we'd meet again."

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Thomas

We had to take the back roads to shake off our stalkers. Neither one of us wanted to admit the truth, that Willie Drake had either set us up or abandoned us as soon as he smelled danger. One by one, our list of people we could trust was growing shorter and shorter.