CHAPTER
NINE
One night like all
other nights the boys were walking Lisa home after one of their nightly swims. The boys made a protective circle around
Lisa. Michael was in back of her, Jason to her left, Joseph to her right,
Jordan in-between Joseph and Jason. Jonathan stood in front of Lisa.
A sound from above made Lisa look up
but she saw nothing. Lisa turned around to ask Michael if he saw something but
Michael was Know were to be found. “Michael this is no time to be playing
games.” Lisa called into the darkness but there was no response. Silently the
boys closed the gap.
Lisa heard the sound again and
turned to ask Joseph if he heard something but Joseph to was
gone. Now Lisa began to panic, Joseph was not the one to play tricks, he was
very loyal to her and would not leave her side unless he was dragged away
kicking and screaming. Again the boys closed the gap but yet again there was
another sound and another boy missing.
Jonathan grabbed Lisa’s hand and
ran. He had seen something drop from above and land silently on
They ran until they reached the pub.
Lisa and Jonathan entered and sat wearily at the bar. Brandy (Jonathan’s mother and the pub owner)
was a fat jolly woman in her early thirties. “Well what will you two be having?” She said already knowing. She pulled out two
stemming mugs of cider. “You two look as if you have been running awhile.”
“Brandy, can I stay here until my
mom gets done?” Lisa asked trying her hardest to cover up her fear.
“Sure, Lisa My boy’s friends are
always welcome, especially you.” Brandy said good
naturally, the last part she merrily mumbled quietly.
Just before Lisa’s mother came from
her office just a little ways from the pub, to get her, Jonathan and Lisa were
in the storeroom playing chess. Lisa had just beaten Jonathan for the sixth
time in a row when Jonathan got up from his seat and walked to a box in the
opposite corner. The room was dimly lit and cluttered with boxes of liqueur and
various things.
“Lisa I have something for you.” He
said pulling out an object wrapped in black silk tied with a velvet cord and
handed it to Lisa. It was heavy but from the moment Lisa held it in her hand
she knew what it was.
Jonathan watched Lisa unwrap it
slowly. He saw her eyes grow wide open when she saw what the rich black silk
concealed.
Lisa drew a sharp breath when she
saw the gems encrusted on the handle of the dagger. She unsheathed it and gazed at the intricate
design on the blade. It pictured roses and the rare Queen Marsha plus many
other flowers that Lisa could not name. “What is this for?” Lisa asked still
gazing at the dagger.
“It is for protection.” Jonathan
explained “My father gave it to my mother when the Black Where first came into
existence. He said that it would protect the owner from harm. She does not need it any more so I am giving
it to you.”