The Mirror Mage

53. Showdown!

Ben waited on tenterhooks for Lucian's signal. He knew Lucian planned to burst through the secret door and surprise Eldor, but if the door was jammed shut, he would have to find another method of distracting him.

He could hear no sound coming from the Smoking Room and hoped this meant that Eldor was stationary, standing where they had last seen him, back by the desk. Unless... perhaps he was moving very softly. As soon as this thought popped into Ben's head, he became convinced Eldor was just on the other side of the wall, preparing to pivot around and fire into the passage at any moment.

He poked the barrel of the shotgun a few centimetres out into the space of the open doorway.

"Last chance to come out of this alive!" he called out.

Crackk! Another shot ploughed into the opposite wall.

Ben withdrew a step, relieved that he'd been wrong. Eldor was still on the far side of the room. Ben refreshed his grip on the shotgun, trying to steady his nerves. Not long now.

Thud! Thud! That must be Lucian, behind the secret door.

A startled curse from Eldor had Ben swinging into action. Without hesitating, he rushed into the room, gun ready. Eldor had his back to him, frantically trying to find the source of the sudden noise and Ben took aim, right between the shoulders, and... he just couldn't do it. He wasn't a practised assassin.

"Come on, Ben!" he silently scolded himself. "This is the man who tried to kill you!"

But he still couldn't take the shot, not in the back like that. He turned to leave the room and that move saved his life.

Quick as a snake, Eldor swung around to confront him and fired, the bullet passing through the space where Ben's chest had been only a fraction of a second ago. Instinct took over and with no time to think, Ben brought up the shotgun and squeezed the trigger. The recoil knocked him off balance, but he could see Eldor fly backward, blood blossoming on the front of his shirt, his coat falling open as he fell.

"Ben!" Lucian's muffled shout came to him through the panelling.

"We're all okay!" he called. "Eldor's down."

The Rider appeared beside him. "Is he dead?"

"I'll check."

Ben's first priority was the revolver. He bent and retrieved it before looking at Eldor. His eyes were open, staring sightlessly up at the ceiling.

Ben didn't think there was any need but he checked for a pulse just to make sure. Nothing.

"I think he's dead."

Melissa knelt down beside the body. "You're right. There's nothing we can do for him."

She stood, and reached gently for the guns Ben was still holding in an iron grip, one in each hand. "Let me take those. I'll take care of them for you."

There was a sound of running footsteps and Lucian burst into the room. He went straight to Ben and wrapped his arms around him. "Are you alright?"

Ben hugged him back. "I am now."

Lucian looked down at Eldor. An expression of satisfaction crossed his face.

"He's dead?"

"Yes. I almost left it too late!" The adrenaline was wearing off and Ben clung to Lucian. "He had his back to me and I just couldn't do it. Not until he turned... and I was almost too late!"

"But you weren't, that's the important thing. You stopped him, before he could hurt anyone else."

"Right." Ben's voice was shaky.

"And we're all safe, all four of us. Unharmed, apart from your shoulder!" His arm tightened around Ben's waist.

"What are we going to do with Eldor?" the Rider asked, prodding him with his foot.

"Well, you can't leave him here," Melissa stated in firm tones. "You'll have to take him with you. Ben and Lucian, I mean."

"What?"

"Well, we can hardly call the authorities, can we? And I refuse to have him buried in the vegetable garden!"

"No," Ben agreed, reluctantly. "You're right. We'll have to take him through the mirror."

"And that's another thing," Melissa was sounding even more determined. "It's become too dangerous. Once you've left, I think I'll smash that mirror to pieces!"

She was met by three shocked faces. A smashed mirror would mean no more access to the Manor. If there was another doorway to anywhere in England, or Earth for that matter, they hadn't found it.

Ben would be stuck in Rhillion and the Rider in England. He knew Lucian would be fine with that, his home was there now, but he was staring at Ben with worried eyes. Probably wondering whether Ben would want to stay with him in Rhillion if it was permanent. Well, that was easy. He reached for Lucian's hand, and gave it a reassuring squeeze. But what about the Rider? Did he really want to stay here with Melissa for life, for longer than a few more months?

Once the mirror was broken, there would be no return.