DarkSkull Hall: The Mage Chronicles, Book 1 (eBook)

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Prologue

A cold wind gusted, whipping the girl’s hair back from her face. When thunder crashed overhead she whimpered and burrowed deeper into her brother’s arms. He held her tighter, his serious gaze focused over her shoulder, worried.
The wind gusted again, and the small boat they were on rocked wildly. Icy needles of rain pelted against her face and a violent shiver racked her small frame. Fear curled in her stomach. All she wanted was to go home, where it was safe and warm and her mother would tuck her into bed with a story and a kiss.
“Papa!” her brother called out. “This isn’t good for Alyx.”
Their father turned, his tall figure outlined in the darkness for a moment by a bright flash of lightning. The look on his face, although quickly hidden, made Alyx want to cry. She didn’t understand what it meant, but it wasn’t good.
“We won’t be long, lad. Keep her close.”
Alyx wanted to call out, to add her voice to her brother’s, have her father’s solid presence closer, his deep voice calming her fears. But before she could say anything his attention was gone, back to the two people he stood with at the prow—their mother, and an older man Alyx vaguely recognised.
Her brother’s arms tightened around her. “It’s going to be okay, Aly-girl,” he murmured in her ear. “Remember who I am?”
“My big brother,” she mumbled into his shoulder.
“And what do big brothers do?”
She smiled. This routine never failed to calm her. “Look after their baby sisters.”
“That’s right. Nothing bad will happen while I’m here.”
Alyx looked back at where her parents stood with the older man. Something about the sight made the dread she’d been feeling return, and not even her brother’s arms around her could stop it. She wanted to look away but was riveted by the sight of the three figures. Something was wrong. She felt it in her bones.
Her brother seemed just as curious as she was, and he edged them closer, making sure to keep a warm around Alyx.
“They’ll be safe with us.” Her father was forced to shout over the wind, desperation in his voice and bearing as he pleaded with their mother, who looked equally desperate. Alyx bit her lip. Why were they so upset?
“Shouldn’t they go to DarkSkull, or even the Island?” the older man asked, meeting Alyx’s eyes briefly before looking back at her father.
“They’re too young for us to know yet. Sending them to either place could be useless.” This from her father. Now he sounded frustrated.
“But they’d be safe there.”
Her father ran a hand over his face, shoulders sagging slightly. “I don’t think any of the mages or Taliath will be safe for a long while.”
Alyx’s mother turned to the older man, speaking for the first time. “Garan is right.” she told him. “We’ve talked about this already, Astor.”
“We can keep them safe, Temari.” Her father spoke again, stepping closer to her mother. The two of them were staring at each other like nothing else in the world existed.
“You know why they’re coming for us. The two of us can’t protect them alone.” She looked like it hurt to speak the words, but she was resolute, green eyes bright with a sheen of tears. “We have to hide.”
“We can protect them,” her father responded steadily. “The two of us, together, we can do anything.”
“No, we can’t. You know it too; you just refuse to accept it.”
Momentary silence fell, and the older man spoke into it. “Temari, are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”
Her mother scrubbed at her face—Alyx thought she might be wiping away tears. “No. I’ll be fine. I want you to help Garan keep Alyx safe.”
The older man nodded, and after a moment left the other two alone, making his way towards Alyx and her brother. He gave them both a friendly smile, as if a storm weren’t raging around them and her parents weren’t more upset than she’d ever seen them before. “Come on, you two. We need to get you settled so the boat can leave.”
“Isn’t the sea too rough for a boat this small?” her brother asked, sounding far older than his years.
“Not if it sticks close to the coastline, lad.” Astor began hustling them into the small cabin on the boat, and Alyx was suddenly afraid her parents would disappear forever if she let them out of her sight.
“No!” She struggled to stay where she was.
“Let her be,” her brother spoke sharply to Astor. “She’s fine with me.”
Her parents were still talking, and although Alyx couldn’t really understand the content of what was being said, she could just make out the words.
“Darien won’t betray us. Alyx and I will be safe here. He’s my oldest friend, Temari.”
“I know.” But her mother’s green eyes looked stormy.
“Stay with us.” Her father’s voice turned pleading. “Both of you. It will hurt them to be separated.”
“You know I can’t. I wish things could be different, Garan, I just…”
Garan sighed and reached out a hand to gently touch her cheek. “I understand.”
“Thank you,” she said brokenly as tears mixed with the rain droplets running down her face. “I’m so sorry for everything.”
He smiled, even though his eyes were full of pain. “I don’t regret a single second. I hope you know that.”
“I don’t either.”
Garan’s hand reached out to clasp tightly to her mother’s. They didn’t embrace further, but Alyx saw enough in both her parent’s eyes to make her feel even more afraid and uncertain. She didn’t understand what was happening, and she clung tighter to her brother.
“Let go of Alyx, lad.” Their father came over, pitching his voice above the storm. “You have to go with your mother.”
“No!” Her brother’s arm tightened around Alyx. “I thought we were going together. I’m not leaving my sister behind.”
“I’m sorry.” Her father gently pushed back wet strands of hair from the boy’s forehead. “You want to keep Alyx safe, don’t you?”
Jaw clenched, her brother nodded.
“If you stay together, she’ll be in danger. The best thing you can do to protect your sister is to go with your mother.”
Alyx glanced between them; her brother looked torn. After a moment his arm loosened and he let go of her. The fear flooded back, and she started trembling. None of this made any sense.
“No,” she whimpered, clutching at her brother’s arm. “Don’t go.”
“I’ll see you again, Aly-girl.” A sad smile broke across her brother’s serious face. “I promise.”
“It will be all right,” her father soothed. “Let him go.”
She shook her head, clinging determinedly to his sleeve. He knelt and gently pried her fingers away, leaning in to give her a warm kiss on her cheek. Astor joined them, one hand settling on Alyx’s shoulder in reassurance.
“Do as Papa says.” Her brother gave her a sad smile. “It’s all going to be okay. I’ll see you again soon.”
Alyx watched, not understanding, as he walked away to join their mother. She said something to him, and then crossed to kneel before Alyx. Her green eyes were dark, her face wet with more than just the rain.
“You be good, Aly-girl.” She pulled her into a hug. “I’m doing this to keep you safe. You need to be safe, and happy.”
Alyx clung as tightly to her mother as she had to her brother, and eventually Temari had to gently pull her away and stand back. “I love you.”
Before Alyx could respond, her father was picking her up and climbing off the boat onto the dock. Astor was the last of them to leave the rocking boat, stepping away to give Alyx and her father some privacy.
“Papa, I want to go with them.” She struggled in his hold, eyes fixed on her mother and brother. “Why are they leaving? I don’t want to say goodbye.” Tears streamed down her face.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured in her ear. “You’ll understand one day, I promise.”
Alyx’s brother raised his hand in farewell while her mother untied the mooring ropes and the boat slowly moved out into the water. Soon it began fading from sight, hidden by the night and a curtain of falling rain.
“It’s okay, Aly-girl.” He held her tighter. “You and me, we’re going to be okay.”
Alyx looked up to see the tears welling in her father’s eyes as he watched the boat leave, and followed his gaze. Her mother stood at the rail, barely visible now, her gaze steady on Alyx and her father. As Alyx stared harder, trying to keep sight of them for as long as possible, an odd numbness seeped through her body.
Then the boat disappeared entirely and Alyx began crying, the tears streaming down her face. Everything was wrong. Something inside her understood she wasn’t going to see them again for a long time, and she cried harder, wriggling to try and get free so she could run after them, beg them to stop.
“I love you, darling girl.”
The words whispered deep in Alyx’s mind, and for a moment, deep love filled her. It was warm and strong and comforting, soothing every ache inside of her. And then it was gone, and darkness claimed her.

When Alyx awoke from a deep sleep, it was daylight and she was in her bed at home.
“Papa?” She blinked. He was sitting by her bed. “What happened?”
“You don’t remember?” he asked carefully.
“No. Why are you in my room?”
He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her brow. “Just watching you sleep, baby girl.”