Bones and Ashes Page 16

  “Could you create a zombie if you had a continuous supply of electricity?” Cassade asked.

  “The effect is very different from necromancy. It’s not so much raising a zombie from the dead as it is simply stimulating the corpse to move. Unlike necromancy, the decomposition doesn’t stop and the corpse is unable to talk. The Inquisition has been experimenting with the effect of electricity on the dead. It’s been shown to have a negative effect on ghosts; they don’t seem to like it. It could be a way to deal with the huge number of ghosts that we have in the city.”

  “We could get one of Raiden’s ghosts and see what effect it has on them,” Blaize suggested.

  Raiden tensed. Blaize could torment her as much as she liked, but Raiden would never let her touch one of her ghosts.

  “The Inquisition are here,” Gale suddenly said. She stood at the window, looking out. They all left the benches and crowded round. A line of black carriages stretched down the street outside the school. Elderly men in black capes and top hats were getting out. Mr Crandell hurried out to greet them. He wore his interrogator black robes over his suit. They flapped in the wind like the wings of a great bird.

  “They must be here about Miss Radbone,” Cassade said.

  The Inquisition came occasionally to do what they called an evaluation of Miss Radbone’s situation. The Inquisition didn’t like her teaching at the school; they wanted her mirror to be somewhere where they could watch her all of the time.

  “Girls, we haven’t finished,” Miss Rudge said. “The lesson isn’t over.” No one moved. Miss Rudge sighed and came to watch at the window with them.

  Raiden turned to find Blaize watching her. Blaize had used her magic to try and push her down the stairs. Was she afraid Raiden would tell the Inquisition what she had done?

  The bell began to ring. “You should go to your next class,” Miss Rudge said. She stayed at the window, anxiously looking out.

  No one spoke as they went to their next class. They sat in silence, conscious of the interrogators somewhere in the school. Deegle entered the room, his thick tail sweeping the floor as he walked to the front of the classroom. He had a small step to stand on so he could reach the board. He clutched the chalk awkwardly in his hand. She didn’t know how he managed to write; his thick, black claws were long and curled.

  “Good morning, ladies,” he said. “Demons as you know fall into two categories; the lesser demons and the greater demons, who are also called archdemons. The archdemons, the pure blooded demons who rule Hell, can appear human. They were the first demons, the fallen ones. The lesser demons like myself sprang up when their blood fell upon the ground. The lesser demons are not of pure demon blood. We appear monstrous and we cannot breed, unlike the demon races such as the fairies and the pixies.”

  “Sir, why are the Inquisition here?” Marigold asked. “Are they going to take Miss Radbone away?”

  Deegle stopped writing. “It’s nothing for you to be concerned about. They won’t be here long and I’m sure Miss Radbone will be staying with us.” He turned back to the board to continue the lesson. “Where was I? Ah, yes. Archdemons can appear human, but they cannot pass for them. They cast no shadow. They were not born of this world so they do not have to follow the laws of this world.”

  He continued to list the differences between the greater and the lesser demons, but no one was listening. Raiden was conscious of the amulet in the pouch at her waist. Should she give the amulet to the Inquisition and tell them about the lady in the mirror?

  On their way to their next class, Raiden came to a decision. “I need to check on Deg,” she said to Cassade.

  She slipped through the corridors. At the far end of the hall, Miss Radbone’s mirror had been hung on the wall. A group of interrogators in their black robes were gathered before it. Miss Radbone sat at her desk, answering their questions. Raiden was too far away to hear what she said. Grub stood next to the mirror, anxiously wiping his hands on his trousers and rocking on his feet while he waited to hear the outcome of the inspection.

  “Can I help you?”

  Raiden spun around. An interrogator stood behind her. The elderly man had feathery white hair. Glasses perched on the end of a large nose, with tufts of white hairs growing out of it. Liver spots covered his hands.

  “Shouldn’t you be in class?” he asked.

  “Yes, I-I should be,” Raiden stammered. “I was just going there now, but I was worried about Miss Radbone. Do you think she will be taken away?”

  The interrogator moved to stand beside her. “I think it’s unlikely. She’s not regarded as dangerous.”

  “Can those imprisoned in mirrors be dangerous? Surely if they’re in the mirror they can’t use their magic.”

  He smiled at her. “You have nothing to fear. Once they’re in the mirror they’re completely powerless. But there is the worry that she might influence you and lead you astray. Young girls are very impressionable. You’re at a vulnerable age. You’re away from the influence of your fathers and you don’t yet have the guidance of a husband.”

  Raiden somehow managed to smile back. She had never talked to an interrogator before; she hadn’t realised how little they thought of women.

  “Do you know what Miss Radbone did to be imprisoned inside a mirror?”

  “I don’t know. I only look after them. The records of their crimes are kept in the archives at St James’s Palace.”

  “Are there no other copies?” If she could get access to those records, she could find out who the lady in the mirror was.

  “I believe there’s a copy of the records at the British Museum. We like to keep a second copy elsewhere in case anything ever happened to the original.”

  Her godfather Xan was the director of the wrong museum. She would need written permission from the Inquisition to get access to the reading rooms at the British Museum.

  “You seem very interested in magic mirrors,” he said.

  “I’m just curious,” Raiden replied.

  “Was there something you wanted to tell me?” the interrogator asked.

  “I --” She was about to tell him about the amulet when an invisible hand clamped over her mouth.

  “Perhaps there was someone you wanted to draw to our attention. Maybe one of your classmates or a teacher.” His eyes gleamed with eagerness.

  She found herself forced to shake her head.

  He seemed disappointed. “You should return to class then.”

  She was forced to nod in agreement and then a phantom hand took her arm and steered her away. It must be Mr Smith. She tried to struggle, but he was much stronger than her. He led her around the corner, out of sight of the interrogators. They stopped before a wooden panel. It slid open. She was pushed into the opening. It was similar to the passageway she and Cassade had found. Fear filled her stomach. She desperately tried to get free, but he held her firm. He guided her through the passageway in darkness, his hand still covering her mouth. She could feel him against her back. He seemed to know where he was going.

  She heard voices ahead. She could see two holes letting light in. He steered her to the peep holes and finally released her. She peered out through the holes. They were the same peep holes she and Cassade had come across.

  They were directly across from Miss Radbone’s mirror. Mr Crandell, the history master, was talking to an interrogator.

  “It’s proven useful having her here.” The interrogator was speaking. She could only partially see him; Mr Crandell blocked her view. “It allows us access to the school and gives us a reason to visit.”

  “If only we could imprison them all,” Mr Crandell said.

  “Unfortunately, there aren’t enough mirrors. We will just have to eliminate them one at a time.” They both chuckled. “Is there any students you need to bring to our attention?”

  “I’m keeping an eye on Cassade Dralus. She’s far too opinionated. I saw her with a copy of that book by Mary Wollenstone.”

  “She takes after her father.” />
  Mr Smith pulled her away before she could hear more. He didn’t cover her mouth this time. She followed him through the passageway. He opened a panel and they came out in the storage room where she had hidden the zombie.

  She turned around. “You didn’t want me to speak to the interrogators, did you?”

  A piece of discarded chalk floated through the air to a chalkboard that lay on its side. Words slowly appeared on the board. ‘They cannot be trusted’, it read.

  “Do you think Cassade is in danger?”

  The chalk hovered in the air. Finally, the word ‘yes’ appeared on the board.

  The chalk fell to the ground and the words were wiped away. The door opened and then closed and she was alone. She felt the outline of the amulet through the pouch. She didn’t know what she was going to do with it now.

  ****

  Raiden jumped down from the carriage. Tobin had stopped at the entrance to an alleyway. Bones and broken glass and other debris littered the narrow space between two coal blackened buildings.

  The Inquisition had left after lunch and the remaining lessons had passed without incident. Miss Radbone was still at the school. The Inquisition had decided to allow her to stay for the moment.

  Tobin picked Deg up and set him on the ground. The imp followed her down the alleyway, holding onto the hem of her dress. She turned and gently tugged the fabric out of his small green hands. “You have to go now.”

  He looked up at her. “Deggo.”

  “Yes, Deg, go.”

  He shook his head. “Deg stay wiv Raadin.”

  “You can’t stay with me. You have to go.” She gently pushed him away. He walked a few steps, then turned back to look at her. “You have to go. I don’t want you anymore.”

  That was how her aunt made her feel - unwanted. She was no better than her. Deg had done things that were wrong, but then everything she did always seemed to be wrong as well.

  “Stay here.” She walked back to the carriage. He stood watching as the carriage pulled away. He seemed so small and vulnerable, crouched amidst the rubbish. “I’m sorry, Deg,” she whispered, although he couldn’t hear her.

  She had to resist ordering Tobin to turn the carriage around and go back for Deg. He had destroyed her room and broken her music box, but she couldn’t help feeling bad for how she had treated him. He had sat with her that night after Blaize had pushed her down the stairs and he had broken the mirror in Blaize’s room and stopped the lady in the mirror from choking her.

  Raiden pushed aside the curtain and peered out of the window. The carriage had come to a stop. None of the other carriages were moving either. There seemed to be some sort of commotion up ahead. Tired with waiting, she opened the door. People were hurrying past, going the other way. She jumped down. “I’ll go and find out what’s happening,” she said to Tobin. She squeezed between the carriages. People shoved past her. She slipped between a hansom cab and a cart and nearly ran into a demon who was also trying to get through. She was pushed back against a horse. The horse reared up. For a second, its hooves were poised above her head. Before they could strike her, someone grabbed her and pulled her back.

  “Thank you…” her breath caught in her throat as she turned around to face her rescuer.

  It was him; the boy who had been outside her window and in the courtyard the night of the party. His white hair made him stand out amidst the muted shades of black and brown. He wore grey gloves, but no hat. His dark eyes gazed at her intently.

  She was unsure of what to say. She didn’t know what was correct in this situation. She thought of Miss Fairbank’s lessons in etiquette. She knew she shouldn’t be in a position where she would meet a gentleman unchaperoned in the first place.

  “What are you doing here?” she blurted out.

  “I could ask you the same question,” he said.

  A church bell began to ring. It was a warning bell. She needed to get back to her carriage.

  His hand steadied her as people pushed by. Raiden didn’t look at him; they still hadn’t been formally introduced. It was too much of a coincidence he should be here, on this street at the exact moment as her. “Shouldn’t you be at school?” she said at last.

  “Shouldn’t you?” he replied.

  “Why are you following me?”

  He raised a white brow. “I wasn’t aware that I was.”

  She flushed. “It can’t be an accident we should keep meeting like this.”

  “Maybe it’s fate.”

  She laughed. “That’s ridiculous.”

  “You don’t believe in fate?”

  “No.”

  “Then I must be following you. Why would I do that? Is there something remarkable about you?”

  “No,” she said softly. “There’s nothing remarkable about me.”

  The bell started to ring faster. People who had been milling about, unsure of what to do, now started running in panic. A man knocked into her. She would have fallen to the ground and been trampled if the young man hadn’t caught her. She immediately tried to pull away from him.

  “Let me see you back to your carriage,” he said. He still had hold of her arm.

  “That’s not necessary.”

  He let go. She tried to push through the crowd. She was elbowed and shoved as people fought to get by. She was being pulled further away from her carriage.

  Someone took her arm and began pulling her through the crowd. He had come back for her.

  “A basilisk has escaped from the zoo.” She heard him clearly above the chaos, yet he didn’t raise his voice.

  People heading in the other direction tried to pull them apart, but he didn’t let go. He shouldered his way through, taking her with him.

  He opened the door of her carriage. He didn’t pull down the steps, instead he placed his hands on her waist and lifted her in. “Thank you,” she said for the second time that day. “I don’t even know your name.”

  “Valic.

  “Do you need a lift?” she asked. It was improper for her to offer him a lift, but she didn’t care. “It’s not safe out there with a basilisk running loose.” Surely, propriety could be set aside when a basilisk was loose in the city.

  The briefest smile touched his lips. “I think the basilisk would be more afraid of me.” He shut the door and was quickly lost in the crowd.

  She sank down onto the seat. She had that same feeling again in her stomach, like butterflies trying to escape. She didn’t notice as the carriage began to move. She only realised they had arrived at the museum when she looked up to see Tobin stood before her, his thick arms crossed over his chest, waiting for her to get out.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Inside the entrance of the British Museum of Natural History stood the skeleton of a dragon that stretched the entire length of the central hall. It was said to be the last dragon slain in England some 1600 years ago by Saint George, although many scholars doubted that it was a dragon; some believed it was an extinct species of wyvern instead. The museum had of course labelled it as a dragon. They claimed it was the only intact skeleton of a dragon in the world.

  Xan had once told her that people didn’t go to museums to see extinct species of wyverns; they came to see dragons.

  A skeleton, dressed in a dark grey suit, walked amongst the displays. He hurried over as soon as he saw her. “Raiden, my dear,” he said, taking both her hands in his. “I’m so glad to see you.”

  Xan, her godfather, was the current director of the museum. He had glass blue eyes in his eye sockets today. They had the unfortunate habit of rolling around in his head, so the pupils weren’t always staring in the same direction.

  Xan tucked her hand under his arm. “I was hoping you would come and visit me. We have a new specimen that’s just come into the museum. You will be the first to see it, other than myself of course.”

  She had wanted to see him since she had returned to London, but she wanted to talk to him, not see his strange creatures. But she didn’t have a choice a
s he led her through the galleries, past bizarre, exotic beasts. One looked like a small child. It had green skin with froglike hands and feet. Its head was ridged, although the strangest thing about it was its thick orange, human-like hair. She didn’t have a chance to read the plaque as she was whisked by.

  “Did Chester arrive?” she asked Xan.

  Before she had left Northumberland, she had told Chester to go and find Xan. He had disappeared and hadn’t come back, so she had assumed he had made it here safely.

  “Yes, he arrived,” Xan said with a sigh. “My dear, I’m not sure I’m the best person to be looking after a dog, especially a ghost one. I keep discovering some of my bones missing. I find them later, buried outside and covered with teeth marks.”

  “It’s not for much longer. It’s just until Christmas. I didn’t know what else to do with him.” Chester, her dog, didn’t like being left at her family’s estates by himself. Somehow, he always managed to find his way to London. Aren used to look after him for her, but his new landlady wouldn’t allow any ghosts in her boarding house; not even a ghost dog.

  “We will just have to hope there's still something left of me by Christmas.”

  Xan led her through a door which was kept locked and out of bounds to the general public. Inside, a huge wooden crate took up most of the room. Piles of straw that had been used to pad the crate covered the floor. Xan carefully lifted away the wooden panel that made up one side of the enclosure. The creature inside had a body that was similar to a hippos, but it was covered with thick black fur. It had four flippers, a long snout, tiny black eyes, and a long horse like tail.

  “What is it?” Raiden asked. She hadn’t seen a creature like it before and she was familiar with most of the species of creatures in the museum.

  “It’s a bunyip, a type of lake monster from Australia. It was believed to be just a myth, but we have finally proved its existence.”