With the others, they walked to a larger building, long like their Manor Lodge but not even a third its size. There were no steps leading in, just two open doors and the floor was dirt. Mila stared at it in surprise.Inside long tables ran the length of either side of the room with a short table at the end that ran between them.'That's for the head family,' Nanny explained quietly to Mila. 'See how everyone knows their places?'Like in the Manor Lodge everyone here went straight to their own seats, leaving Nanny and Mila standing in the middle of the room.'Nanny,' Mila whispered. 'Where do we sit?''We wait to be greeted,' Nanny replied.Nuia walked straight to the head family's table then turned and faced the room, raising her arms.Everyone fell silent, eyes on her.'Thank you all for your help with the washing. We will eat shortly, but first I wanted to introduce you to our guest today.'Mila pressed tight against Nanny as all eyes turned to them.'Most of you know Nanny
The doors to the Great Hall opened as Mila and Nanny were saying their goodbyes. Mila didn't turn to look, too busy hugging another Uncle, but she heard Nanny's gasp.This gasp sounded bad.Mila pulled back from her Uncle's arms and noticed he too seemed distracted, she turned.A villager stood amongst a group of adults, speaking quietly. The adults all looked sick, some cried.'Nanny,' Mila whispered, and reached for her hand. 'What's wrong?'Nanny said nothing, only held Mila's hand tight.The villager looked their way and with a visible sigh, walked to their table.'I am so sorry to bring you such news. Jeran Mestarn was found dead beneath a rock slide this morning. We think it caught him during the night.'It took a minute before Mila realized he meant Uncle Jeran.The lovely calm feeling froze in her mind. She didn't know how she should react.Turning, Mila found her parents staring at the man with shocked expressions. Moments later their gazes slid in unison to her face
Mila sat on the floor of her room, toys gathered around as if she played. But the toys lay ignored as Mila tilted her head, ear to the door. The murmur of voices wasn't loud enough. Mila closed her eyes and relaxed, imaging she heard them in her head.The door opened, Mila glanced up to see Nanny smiling at her.'Well! What are we doing here, lovey? Oh, is it a traveling troupe?'The firm way Nanny spoke and her brief check down the corridor made Mila even more certain something wasn't right. 'Come now, play along. I'll be Ms Geckna, pulling the giant wagon with all her friends in it. Now, where are we going?''Oo-' Mila shook her head, mind clearing. 'The village? A show for the village?''Very good idea! They'll love it. Let's set it up.'Nanny wouldn't stop using the high firm voice, making it difficult for Mila to hear their voices in her mind. 'Not interested? Let's read a story then,' Nanny smiled with a closed mouth, offering her hands to Mila.They climbed onto Mila'
Mila gasped a belly deep sucking pull, head ringing like a bucket had been stuck over her and struck.'Lea.' Papa held her in his arms. 'Lea, are you okay?'Mila blinked the motion heavy and difficult. 'Y-yes.''Can you find the nightmare?'Papa helped her sit up. The spinning slowed, and the room came back into view, Mama and Nanny watched her anxiously.'What?' Mila couldn't make sense of the question, the ringing in her ears passing, leaving the room sharp in its quietness.'The nightmare, can you remember the nightmare? Focus, Lea. See if you can find it.'Mila closed her eyes and tried to let her mind wander. It didn't want to come. She wrinkled her forehead, lips twisted in a scowl and tried harder.A soft touch on her shoulder made her eyes open. Mama smiled at her.'Not there?'Shocked, Mila shook her head. 'No, Mama.''Good. We won't let that bother you anymore. Now, you and Nanny get to sleep.' Mama kissed Mila's forehead and Papa helped her under the covers. Both
Nanny lifted Mila off her and hurried to help Mama. Mila stared in fascination as the two women heaved at her bed, pushing it across the room. There where her bed had sat was a large square wrought-iron gate set into the floor. It looked just like the manhole!Mama dropped to her knees next to it, seizing the iron ring handle with both hands and pulling back. When it didn't budge she bent forward to examine it then twisted, shouting. 'Zayck! THE KEY?!'A string of curses rang out from the other room when another CRACK of energy struck the door, sharper than the last one. Nanny leapt onto the bed beside Mila, snatching her close.Papa rushed through the bedroom door. 'What? Can't you find it?''Where'd we put it?' Mama demanded, ripping items from Mila's closet, hunting through the shelves.'I'll check our bedroom.' Papa hurried from the room.Nanny and Mila sat clutching each other, bodies tense when another bolt rang out.An ominous splintering CRACK made Nanny gasp.In th
Papa rushed past the bedroom door, clutching items. Mila heard it as he dumped the items onto the kitchen table.'Dan'iss!' Papa called Mama's name. 'Switch!'Mila listened, mind reaching to try and see what they did. She felt it as Mama's energy seemed to draw back, Papa's layering over it. Another hum rumbled through her mind, this time Papa calling out to people. None of it came through clear enough for Mila to understand.Frustrated, stomach aching Mila again turned her attention to the door. With tentative hands she reached out. A shudder of relief ran through her when her hands pressed against the iron with nothing striking her mind. It sounded clear, like the manhole cover she'd opened did. Mila closed her eyes and let her thoughts flow, watching the puzzle appear in her mind. She sucked her breath in at the bizarre shapes it didn't look like any of the puzzles she'd solved before.In her mind's eye she saw five separate circles, floating, held together by tendrils of lig
The air around Mila felt thick, crackling with electricity. She stood in the bedroom doorway and opened her mouth in a high-pitched wail as her plait of hair lifted into the air, her nightshirt undulating around her knees.Papa grabbed Mama, Nanny grabbed the bags. The three of them raced from the kitchen. Papa twisted to fling something back that resounded with a piercing shriek and CRACK of energy.Mila dropped to a crouch, hands in fists to her ears. 'NO, NO, NO!' she cried out in fear.'Come, Lea,' Papa said, letting Mama go ahead into the bedroom. He bent to scoop Mila up.Whatever Papa did made the thickness to the air vanish, but it didn't stop those at the door. Arms clinging tight to Papa as he lifted her, Mila watched as their front door exploded. Splinters of wood hurtled toward them, Mila buried her head against Papa's neck, arms squeezing tight.Small thuds of wood against wood made her peek.The thousands of splintered pieces of door lay scattered in the corridor be
Mila's eyes opened to chaos.Papa held her by the waist, lifting her off her feet as Mama shrieked her name. Sound, so much sound! Blasts of energy hummed and exploded around them.'Get in!' Papa roared at Mama and Nanny.Mila stared over her papa's shoulder in terror at the three men approaching Uncle Vidna snarled, his massive eyes connecting with hers.'Come, Mila.' Uncle Jeran's voice sounded in her mind, so close, so real.Papa stumbled, Mila clutched at him as his arms tightened around her. They fell hard to the floor.A loud CRACK rang out.Papa jerked his head up, Mila twisting at the same time.Nanny hurled herself in front of the broiling cloud that bore down on them.The dark energy sucked the woman in.An awful scream resounded through the room. The cloud twisted tighter, spinning, bulging here and there, a figure within struggling against it. A rippling crackle of lightning energy lit the edges of the cloud before flashing through it, illuminating the room, showc