gemmamawdsley

Pierce Hogan scowled and turned his nose up in disgust at the state of the front door. Someone had the audacity to throw eggs at the building housing his party headquarters, and their chaos marred the windows, as well as making a mess on the paintwork. The webby, jellified mass of egg white came away on his fingers, as he placed his key in the lock.

The small staff he hired to help with the running of the campaign had not arrived yet, but that was nothing new. It was not easy to find anyone willing to work the hours he demanded, and at the small rate of pay he offered. It was jealousy, he told himself, as he went back into the office. People were jealous of his success and they could not bear to be reminded of his wealth. Most of them had never seen a designer suit before, never mind owned one, he sneered at the thought. He waited for over an hour until it became obvious that no one was going to turn up. The shimmering figures in the doorway startled him.

   “May I help you?” Black spots danced before his eyes.

   “We were hoping we could be of help to you.”

He waved the two figures into the shadowy interior

   “There, that’s much better,” he smiled, showing stained, tiny squirrel-like teeth.

The young boy and girl were unlike anyone he had seen before, and as different as fire and ice.

   “We thought you might have some work for us?” The girl tossed her mane of red hair over her shoulder.

   “Finished school, are you?” Pierce looked from one to the other.

   “Yes,” the boy answered this time. “We are looking for a job before we started college in the autumn.”

   “You not from around here, are you?” Pierce asked.

   “No, we are camping up here for the summer. We are both hoping to major in history and there are a few ancient sites that we would like to explore,” the boy said.

   “I can’t pay you much,” Pierce sensed an opportunity for cheap labour.

   “We do not need much,” the girl assured him. “We will be happy with whatever you offer.”

   “Very well,” he named an amount a third less than what he was willing to pay the locals.

   “That will be great,” they chorused.

   “Good,” Pierce clapped his hands, delighted at the bargain. “What are your names?”

   “I am Amber, and this is Sabba,” the girl smiled. “His ancestors were Russian,” she added, before the man could ask.

   “Well, that’s nice to know,” Pierce straightened his shoulders. “I’ll start by telling you a bit about myself and the object of my campaign. “Wait a moment; I just have to get something from my car.”

Once the door closed behind him Amber turned to Sabba.

   “What a horrible man,” she shivered.

   “I suppose we should have expected as much,” Sabba shrugged.

   “This way we can find out what he is up too.” Amber said.

   “Our parents will go mad,” Sabba bit his lip. “We are already in trouble.”

   “I do not care,” Amber’s eyes blazed in anger. “This man is trying to destroy our home. We cannot let that happen, no matter what our parents say.”

Sabba had experience of Amber’s fiery temper and decided to let the matter rest. There was not a sound within the room, other than the distressed buzzing of a fly caught up in one of the dusty, cobwebby windows.

   “Here we are,” Pierce came back, struggling with a large black and white poster.

He placed it against a computer on one of the desks and made sure it was steady, before standing back to admire his work. “I took the photo myself and had it blown up.”

He was proud of his work. Amber and Sabba walked over to where he stood, and both felt their blood grow cold.

   “That monstrosity is the reason I’m running for government,” he looked smug as he stared at their pale faces. Sure, they shared in his horror at what lay before them. You will not know the place, but it is called Culdoplin Castle. I want to have the place knocked down, raised to the ground if you will.”

   “Why?” Amber whispered, as she gazed at the silent sentinel that guarded her home.

.   “It had no historic significance,” Pierce said. “I doubt if I’ll have any trouble getting the order to knock it through the local council.”

Amber moved closer to Sabba and slipped her hand in to his. They had to find a way to stop this man from destroying their home and all they loved, but how?