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Shadow Self

Posted by Gemma Mawdsley Blog on November 2, 2020
Posted in: books, castles, changelings, Dwarfs, Eerie Places, elves, enemies, Fairies, Fantasy, fiction, folklore, Goblins, Gothic, Gothic novel, hags, hidden worlds, Ireland's past, Irish folklore, kings, legend, magic, monsters, prince, princess, queens, revenge, scary, strange worlds, teenagers, wise women, Witchcraft, wizards, young adults. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Juliet’s fingers shook as she opened the laptop, and she stopped for a few minutes to let the trembling subside. It did not help that Mr Thomas and Steven had told them about meeting their doubles in the village. The light from the battery-powered lantern was dim, and for a moment, shadows surrounded her. Logging on, she clicked on to her mother’s name and waited for her to answer the call over the internet.

   “Juliet,” her mother’s face appeared on the screen. “How are you, my darling? I expected to hear from you sooner”

   “I’m good, mom. My battery ran down, and I had to wait to recharge it. I did not want to use my mobile, it is too expensive. It’s all a bit unsettled now, but we started digging today.”

Juliet throat grew tight, as her mother filled her in on what was happening at home. She wished she could reach out and touch her mother’s face and breathe in the familiar scent of her body. She intended telling her all about Biddy and the story about the girl who looked like her, but she decided against it. The circles around her mother’s eyes were so dark she looked like a raccoon. Was it the way the shadows fell, Juliet wondered or did her mother look sicker than ever?

 “We’ve been talking about your 18th,” her mother said. “Dad thinks he’ll have a few of the bedrooms ready by then and you can invite some friends to stay. What do you think?”

   “That sounds great, mom. I have made a new friend here. His name is Corey, and we like a lot of the same things.”

   “Rick won’t be pleased,” her mother teased.

   “He’s just a friend, mom, nothing more,” Juliet rolled her eyes. “I have to log off now. Corey needs to use my computer to call home, and I do not want the battery to run down again. Give my love to everyone,”

   “Will do, my pet, love you. Have a great time and stay in contact.”

   “Love you too. Mom.”

The feeling of loneliness when her mother’s face faded from the screen was overwhelming. Juliet wanted to put her head down and howl.

She clicked on Rick’s name next and he answered on the second ring.

   “How’s my girl?”

. They talked for a while, mostly about what he was doing to pass the summer vacation and the usual stuff. She was sorry when she had to log off, but she knew how anxious Corey was to contact his family. Pushing aside the laptop; she crawled out of the tent and went in search of him.

   “Great!” He said, when she told him the computer was free. “I won’t stay on long, promise.”

Corey’s family did not have the benefit of having a video phone, and he hoped Rasher or Stew was online on one of the social sites.

   “Great, Rasher’s here,” his fingers flew over the keys, as he asked how everything was going.”

Everything is fine, Rasher informed him. Nothing new or strange was happening.

   “There’s loads of weird stuff going on here,” Corey wrote. “I’ll send you an email and you can read it for the others. You’re going to think I’m mad, but I swear everything I tell you is true.”

   “Cool,” Rasher said. “Jamie is here, and he wants to say hello.”

The writing changed as Jamie tried to tell him all about the hens and how many eggs they laid. His writing was like trying to decipher hieroglyphics as he had never spent much time in school, but the childish words made Corey smile. A few of the homeless, who used the internet cafes, sent their best wishes. They told Corey how much they missed him, but it was not just his friends who read every word he wrote. Someone else read it and wondered what the “weird stuff” was all about. After sending the email, Corey logged off.

   “Want to take a walk?” He asked Juliet.

There was nothing else to do until bedtime. The village had no attractions other than a pub, and they were underage.

   “You seemed a bit upset by what Mr Thomas and Steven said.”

   “It kind of freaked me out,” Juliet said. “The whole thing with Biddy and our doubles is too weird.”

   “Yeah, but we’ll find out the truth soon. She said it wouldn’t be long.”

   “How you can be so cool about it,” she glared at him. “I mean with all this stuff happening you don’t seem to care.”

   “I don’t,” he said. “I keep thinking that I’ll believe it when I see it.”

   “What about the Erebans, you believe in them?”

   “I saw one of them,” Corey gulped, as the image of the dark figure came rushing to his mind.

   “So, if they’re real then the other things she talked about must be as well.”

   “I don’t know,” he muttered. “I suppose. What’s really bugging you?”

   “Sorry, it’s my mother,” Juliet said. “She looks sicker than before, but she says she’s ok.”

   “If there is such a place as the hidden world, with all its magic and all,” Corey said. “Maybe they can help her?”

   “I never thought of that,” Juliet felt hope soar within her, and she prayed he was right.

Shadow Self

Posted by Gemma Mawdsley Blog on October 31, 2020
Posted in: books, castles, changelings, Dwarfs, Eerie Places, elves, enemies, Fairies, Fantasy, fiction, folklore, gloom, Gothic, hags, hidden worlds, Irish folklore, kings, legend, magic, prince, princess, queens, revenge, strange worlds, teenagers, wise women, Witchcraft, Witches, wizards, writers, writing, young adults. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Something hid among the trees. This was evident as two red eyes watched when they stepped out of the cottage. Tabby arched her back and started to spit

    “It is Flora, you silly old thing,” Amber said.

“Then why would Tabby react in such a way,” Biddy mused. “She’s known that old fox since she was a kitten. I’ve seen them playing together.”

Biddy picked up the cat and ushered them indoors. She knew it was not Flora, but some Ereban hag who had the power of shape shifting. Had it been listening outside the door?

   “What is it, Biddy?” Amber asked.

   “Nothing, my pets,” she gave a weak smile. “You must get home before it gets dark. I will walk as far as the castle with you. I’ll rest easy knowing that you’re safely home.”

   “Safe?” Sabba held the door open to let them out. “How can it be safer with the Erebans there?”

   “Tell your father there’s no longer any doubt. Perius has sent out his spies and he must make ready for battle,” Biddy kissed Amber on the forehead. “Have courage, my child.”

   “Goodbye, Biddy,” Sabba kissed her wrinkled cheek. “We will see you soon.”

.

   “I have been thinking about our shadow self’s,” Amber said as they entered the cave. “What if they are evil and in league with the Erebans?”

   “I doubt if they are,” Sabba said. “It is something to do with the old magic. You know how Larkeon is always going on about how magic is waxing and waning,” he copied the old dwarf’s voice and made Amber laugh. “Well, maybe it’s coming back, and they are part of it, and here to aid us.”

   “Or maybe, the magic is dying, and they are here to take advantage of this?”

   “We will go to our fathers and ask them about it. We are no longer children who can be fobbed off with some story, and it is time we learned the truth,” Sabba said.

It seemed colder than usual as they descended deeper into their subterranean world. It’s always cool inside the cave, but tonight the air had a bitter sting to it. Amber shivered and tried to ignore the icy water running through her veins.

   “Your father is very angry,” Roak’s scarred face peered at them out of the darkness.

Legend said that his mother was frightened by an Ereban while out picking moon berries one night, and the fright showed in the face of her child. Therefore, Roak prefers to remain in the darkness.

   “I will go to him right away,” Amber promised.

Flora was exhausted. Her day was at an end and her young pupils were back with their parents. It was a pleasant surprise to see the princess and young lord again.

   “Did you go hunting in the mortal world today?” Amber asked the fox.

   “Me!” Flora asked. “I most certainly did not. You know how much I detest going above ground.”

   “I thought as much,” Amber sighed.

   “Why do you ask?” Flora narrowed her eyes and looked from one to the other.

   “Biddy thought it was an Ereban hag who had shape shifted. Whatever it was, it was listening outside the cottage and heard every word we said.”

Flora smiled. What possible secret could two young people have that would interest the Erebans? Then she noticed the fear in the eyes of the princess and young lord. There was something strange afoot and she needed to find out what.

   “Have you spoken to Larkeon about this?” Flora asked.

   “No, not yet” Amber said.

   “Then do so, at once,” the swishing of the fox’s tail was the only show of the turmoil in her mind.

“Come in, come in,” Larkeon bade them to follow him into his study. “What can I do for you my young ones?”

For the next few minutes Larkeon listened in silence as the princess told him the story about the shadow selves and what Biddy said about the Ereban Nightflyers.  When she finished, Larkeon stood and urged them to do the same.

   “Go home and speak to your parents,” he ushered them towards the door.

As the door slammed behind them, Amber and Sabba wondered why everyone was behaving in such a strange manner when they mention the shadow selves.

Shadow Self- chapter thirty-five

Posted by Gemma Mawdsley Blog on August 31, 2020
Posted in: birdsong, hope faith God whispers heaven, books, castles, changelings, Dwarfs, Eerie Places, elves, enemies, Fairies, Fantasy, fiction, folklore, Goblins, Gothic, prince, princess, revenge, scary, strange worlds, teenagers, wise women, Witchcraft, Witches, wizards, wonder, writers, writing, young adults. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Corey and Juliet walked through the trees. They were both anxious to reach Biddy’s cottage.

The morning air was cold and the flickering light from the fire was a welcoming sight, as they walked up to the front door. Biddy opened it before they had the chance to knock.

   “I have been waiting for you,” she stood aside to let them in. “I made some tea and there’s cake if you’re hungry.”

They both asked for tea and cupped their hands around the mugs, glad of the warmth of the tea.  

   “You’ll be anxious to hear what I’ve learned,” she said after a moment’s silence.

They nodded and waited.

   “After I left you yesterday, I went in to the hidden world.”

   “I thought you were going up to the castle?” Corey said.

   “I was, the entrance to the hidden world is beneath the castle,” Biddy said. “I know what you’re thinking: that I’m a mad old woman who has nothing better to do than fill your heads with my nonsense.”

She held up a hand to still their protests. “It’s all right; I don’t blame you but tell me this. Is it madness to recognise reality? Anyway, I will explain what I can about the hidden world and let you decide for yourselves. The king gave me permission to tell you some of the facts; the rest is up to him.”

She spent the next hour or so telling them about the hidden world. They listened in awe as she described a place, they had heard about in fairy tales. Images of Bargamore, Claradon Faranord and the Ereban Forest swam in their heads, as they tried to envision the places she spoke of. Biddy’s gift for storytelling is unsurpassed, and her descriptions filled them with wonder.

   “I know it’s hard to take all this in,” she said. “You are modern children who know nothing beyond television and computers. Here, in this barren place, we are content to live alongside all sorts of creatures be they elf, fairy or even the dead. Though you might not want to believe it, the mortal and fairy world are entangled and interwoven more than you realise.”

   “When you say time slows down,” Corey asked. “What do you mean exactly?”

   “The Elfin can live for hundreds of years. It was rare for one of their race to die young until…” she let the words trail off.

   “Until what?” Juliet urged. “What were you going to say?”

   “The king will explain all that. It is not for me to speak of such things and its best you hear it from him.

Juliet felt beneath the table for Corey’s hand. Were the things the old woman saying true, they both wondered and if so, why did what seem wonderful a moment ago, now fills them with something akin to dread?

   “Aye,” Biddy said. “You feel it too. There’s something not right in the hidden world and I know the Erebans are plotting.”

 Before either of them could ask how she knew this, Biddy continued.

   “The Erebans are dreadful creatures. Well, you’ve seen that for yourself,” she nodded at Corey. “They are not just fearsome to behold, but they have great powers of darkness. Erebans are our boogiemen and there is not a child in the hidden world that does not fear them. No one is sure where they come from. No one has ever seen the Ereban young. Perhaps, they sprout from the earth like dark spores and do not come to life until mature. No one knows, but they are strange, savage beings. They poison the mind with terrible thoughts and eat away at the soul. Some have taken their own life and others they turn in to raving lunatics. They have the power to strip away man’s dreams and hopes and as the elfin say, once these are gone, there is nothing left. They have stay quiet up to now, but there is something in the air, a gathering of energy. I’ve sensed it over the past few weeks and it’s getting stronger.”

   “What do we do next?” Juliet tried to repress a shudder.

   “We wait,” Biddy said. “There’s nothing else we can do. Go back to your dig. Word will be sent when the time comes. I’ll come and fetch you when the king is ready.”

Corey and Juliet could not wait to be alone to talk about everything, but they didn’t want to leave the warmth of the kitchen. They were safe in the cottage. It cocooned them with its strange scent of herbs and though this was just their second visit, it was familiar.

   “Run along now,” Biddy stood and started to collect the mugs. “I have work to do.”

   “What if something happens and you can’t get to us?” Corey asked.

   “Then you’ll hear the bells. The fairy bells ring out at times. I heard them on the night of my mother’s death. Even though they resented her marriage, they could not let her passing go unmarked. Listen for the bells. If you hear them, come and find me.”

   “What do they sound like?” Juliet asked.

   “You’ll remember them. The memory of their sweetness will return once you hear them.”

The sun was high in the sky and the air felt much warmer when they stepped outside. Tabby, who was basking in the warmth, came over and rubbed against them. She jumped up on the fence and watched as they walked towards the trees. The slight breeze ruffled her fur as she raised her head and sniffed the air. Her mistress was right, there was something wrong. She hissed, drawing her lips back over pointed teeth. Then a stray leaf floated by and she forgot, for a moment, her feeling of dread.

Shadow Self-chapter twenty-nine

Posted by Gemma Mawdsley Blog on August 17, 2020
Posted in: birdsong, hope faith God whispers heaven, books, castles, changelings, Dwarfs, Eerie Places, elves, enemies, Fairies, Fantasy, fiction, folklore, Goblins, Gothic, hags, hidden worlds, Ireland's past, Irish folklore, kings, legend, magic, monsters, prince, princess, queens, revenge, strange worlds, teenagers, thoughts, twlight, wise women, Witchcraft, Witches, wizards, wonder, writers, writing, young adults. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

It was easy to understand why the Crossover had got its name. The boundary: the line dividing the Ereban forest from the other lands, is like comparing day to night. The dark shadow of the trees falls across the road, and not even the air vents cast any light into that dark place. Hack stopped and listened for a moment. There was nothing other than the sound of birds and the rustling in the bushes, as creatures foraged for food. Still, he could not afford to take a chance, so he moved on tip toe, wincing as his shoes made small crunching noises. A shadow fell across his path and blocked the light. Two enormous paws appeared, and he traced the shape upwards until he came face to face with blazing, red eyes. Beast and dwarf stood face to face for a moment until Hack sighed and said.

    “I am here on the king’s business, so you must let me pass.”

The fairy dog moved its giant head from side to side studying the small figure before him and gnashed its pointed teeth. It growled and shook its head. The dogs are the only creatures in the hidden world that have no voice. A smack from the dog’s paw sent him sprawling down on to the ground, and it was this same paw that held him in place. Other large shapes moved around him, and he heard the growls of the other dogs. I know what they are doing, Hack thought, they are sending word to Lord Fabien to see if what I said is true.

   “Listen,” Hack gasped when the others had run off. “I am finding it hard to breath with your paw on my chest. Let me up. I promise not to move.”

The dog’s face descended until he was staring into the red eyes again, but the pressure on his chest lifted. Hack stood and shook the dust from his tabard.

   “There was no need for that,” his said, as he felt along his ribs and glared at the dog.

It growled and went back to its grooming, all the while keeping an eye on the dwarf. Despite its great size, Hack mused, it is still a dog.

Hack let his eyes roam along the hedgerows. The dog cocked his ears, as he saw the dwarf pick up a stick from out of a tangle of branches. Its interest was piqued now, and it watched as the dwarf stripped away some of the dead leaves.

   “It is a nice stick, is it not?” Hack made a move, pretending to throw, and the dog arched its back ready to follow.

. Hack stood up on his toes and threw as hard as his small arms allowed. The stick sailed over the hedges and the shape of the fairy dog passed over his head, like as dark cloud as it followed. Hack ran, his feet hardly touching the ground, as he headed for the forest. The ground shook as the dog, realising he had been duped, took off after him.  

   “Not so big now, are you doggie?” He laughed from the shadow of the trees. “Wait until all your furry friends hear how the big fairy dog was outwitted by a dwarf.”

Hack knew the dog could not cross over the boundary, not unless ordered to do so by its master.

   “That is right,” Hack said, as the hair on the dog’s back rose. “Growl all you want. See if I care.”

    The Ereban forest is a dark and fearsome place and though Hack knew this, the need to prove himself overcame his fear. No one understood what it was like to be a dwarf in a world of elves and fairies. The elves are known for their beauty and magic. The fairies, whose colours glistened brighter than jewels, make him feel like nothing special. They would have to sit up and take notice when he solved the mystery of the princess and Lord Sabba.

   The fairy dog started to bark; the sound resounding like the clanging of hundreds of church bells. 

   “Stop it, stupid dog,” Hack shouted, but his voice went unheard above the noise of the barking.

The sound made his head swim and the ground went from beneath him. He opened his eyes as the trees swept past him in a dark flash. He blinked and tried to struggle free from whatever held him. A resounding slap on the top of his head stunned him.

   “Stay still, dwarf,” the voice rumbled like thunder.

Hack felt tears prick his eyes, and he shook his head to clear his vision. He was carried through the trees; his body dangling under the arm of an Ereban. His captor picked him up from behind, so Hack was lying sideways and able to see around him, as they moved deeper into the forest.

   “Please…” his plea earned him another slap on the head, and he thought it wiser to keep quiet.

He had never seen an Ereban up close before. In the past, their dark shapes were the things children whispered about, but no one ever expected to see one, except in a nightmare. The arm around his waist was hard, as though made solely of bone. The stench from its body was nauseating. It smelt sickly-sweet like fresh cut earth or blood. No, worse, Hack thought, it smells of decay. It moved quickly, the weight of its burden did nothing to slow it down.

They crossed large streams, the Ereban leaping from stone to stone. Hack saw the hideous shapes that sat along the banks. Women, or things that might once have been so, clambered from the water to get a better look. Their bodies wasted to the point of emaciation, ribs sticking through skin that seemed too thin to hold back the bones advance. All had long, white hair that grew in a tangle of confusion and when they noticed his searching eyes, they used this to cover their nakedness. Their faces were long, the mouth and nose quite normal, but the eyes were the most terrifying. They were oblong and covered over two thirds of the face. Hack felt his resolve falter as he saw reflected in each of the huge orbs a hopelessness he could never have imagined. He knew he was witnessing what the mortals spoke of as Hell.

Shadow self-chapter twenty-six

Posted by Gemma Mawdsley Blog on August 12, 2020
Posted in: birdsong, hope faith God whispers heaven, books, castles, changelings, Dwarfs, Eerie Places, elves, enemies, Fairies, Fantasy, fiction, folklore, Goblins, Gothic, hags, hidden worlds, Ireland's past, Irish folklore, kings, legend, magic, monsters, prince, princess, queens, revenge, scary, strange worlds, teenagers, wise women, Witches, wizards, wonder, writers, writing, young adults. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Biddy felt her hackles rising; something was wrong. The youngsters were not as talkative or as boisterous as usual, but she put their strange mood down to the greyness of the sky. Elfin, like mortals are creatures of light, and the overhanging clouds tend to put a damper on them. Still, Tabby had known them for years and she reacted in such a way to strangers.

   “Sit down,” Biddy said. “I have to feed the chickens. There is cake in the larder and there’s apple juice if you are thirsty. You know where it is,” she picked up a small basin full of rind and bits of stale bread.

The excuse of feeding the chickens was a ruse, so she could get her thoughts in order. As she scattered the food, she wondered what made the cat react in such a way.

   “I’m getting old,” she sighed. “There’s no other explanation. I am losing my powers. It worries me when the cat recognises before I do, that something is wrong.”

Biddy has the gift of second sight, as she was the offspring of an elfin mother and mortal father. Her eyes brighten. Of course, that is what’s wrong with the youngsters.

Corey and Juliet were sitting side by side whispering when she opened the cottage door. They jumped apart and sit up straight in their chairs as she approached.

   “Not hungry?” She looked down at the empty table.

   “We are a bit,” Corey said. “But we thought we’d wait for you.”

   “That was thoughtful,” Biddy eased her aching bones into a chair. “Be a good boy and fetch the cake for me.”

He looked in confusion at the three doors lining the room

   “Sit down,” Biddy said. “I’ll fetch it myself.”

They sat in silence, as she uncovered the fruit cake and poured the juice in to three glasses.

   “Go on, eat,” she said. “It won’t poison you.”

Breaking off a large piece of the cake, she popped it into her mouth. Corey picked up his slice and bit it.

   “It’s delicious,” he said as his teeth sank into sweet fruits and bits of nuts.

   “It is,” Juliet agreed.

   “Good,” Biddy drank from her goblet. “Now that we have established that, perhaps you’d care to tell me who you are?”

   “Yeah, sorry about that,” Corey blushed. “We didn’t mean to try and fool you. “It’s just that we’re here looking for answers and since you seemed to recognise us…” his voice trailed off. “Perhaps, if we told you our stories, you would understand,” he said. “Juliet and I met for the first time yesterday, but something drew us together. Will you listen to what we have to say?”

   “I’m listening,” Biddy said.

For the next hour they shared their stories about their life and the strange things they both had seen.

   “It was the one word that brought us together,” Corey said. “Culdoplin, I’ve heard that name whispered in my dreams and so has Juliet.”

Juliet told her about her shadow self, the girl who looked exactly like here.

   “I’ve never seen anyone who looked like me, but I saw the monster dog and the Thing,” Corey added.

   “What are you talking about child?” Biddy interrupted.

   Corey told her about the alley and the things he had seen.

   “A fairy dog sent to protect you,” Biddy nodded.

   “It looked more like a monster,” Corey said. “It scared me to death.”

   “They’re big, but harmless to the innocent. I could never keep a dog because of them. They see the fairy dogs running wild and take off after them never to return.”

   “So, you believe in the fairies?” Juliet asked.

   “I am part elfin, my mother married a mortal,” Biddy said. “The Thing you saw was an Ereban.”

   “What’s an Ereban?” Juliet asked.

   “Keep your voice down, child,” Biddy shushed her. “The skies are overcast and there’s no telling where they might be. Erebans are the worst part of ourselves, be we elf or mortal,” Biddy said. “They are born of our worst traits and thrive on fear and chaos. They roam the world by night. That is when they are their strongest. They creep through the cracks in our minds and spread their venom in nightmares.”

Juliet shivered and moved her chair closer to Corey.

   “Why would one of them come after me?” Corey asked.

   “It’s never been known before, but there is something stirring and it’s not just you who needs answers.” Biddy stood. “It’s time to go, there’s work to be done.”

   “But you haven’t told us anything,” Juliet said.

   “I’ll walk to castle with you,” Biddy said. “There is someone I must consult. Come back in the morning. I might have answers for you then.”

   “Will you come over to my tent when the others are asleep?” Juliet asked Corey when Biddy left them.

   “No problem,” he said. “I doubt if I will sleep tonight.”

It was not a night for being alone, when they knew the truth about the Things roaming the darkness.

Shadow Self- chapter nineteen

Posted by Gemma Mawdsley Blog on July 31, 2020
Posted in: birdsong, hope faith God whispers heaven, books, castles, changelings, Dwarfs, Eerie Places, elves, enemies, Fairies, Fantasy, fiction, folklore, Goblins, Gothic, Gothic novel, hidden worlds, Ireland's past, Irish folklore, kings, legend, magic, monsters, strange worlds, teenagers, twlight, wise women, Witchcraft, Witches, wizards, wonder, writers, writing, young adults. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

The day had turned grey and overcast by the time Juliet stepped off the train. The air was heavy, like walking through syrup, and within minutes her skin was hot and clammy. There was no sign of a porter and the shutters were down on the ticket office. With over twenty minutes to spare, she decided to make her way out into the street and have a look around. She found a grocery store and decided to browse around to pass the time. It was an old-fashioned place with not much to see, so she bought a packet of gum. 

  The streets were wet and small puddles had formed on the footpath. There must have been a sun shower while she was inside. The clamminess had gone, and was replaced with a cool breeze that felt good on her skin.

The first thing that struck Corey, when he stepped down out of the train, was how fresh the air smelt. He was used of city life and the smell of exhaust fumes and greasy odours. Not even the air around his home smelled this sweet, as the breeze carried with it the scent of green mosses and the rawness of freshly washed earth. Once the platform cleared of its few stragglers, he looked around to find Juliet, the girl who described herself as someone with a head of fire. It was impossible to miss her. She was sitting on a bench at the other end of the platform reading something on her phone. Her description was understandable now, but it was nothing like he expected. He had never seen hair that colour. It was like a dark, rich wine that glowed in the sunlight.

   “Hey,” he said, when he reached her.

She was too intent on her phone message to notice him approach.

   “Hi,” she stuffed the phone in to the pocket of her jeans and stood up.

Corey extended a hand and then withdrew it. That was so lame, shaking hands like some formal grownup.

   “I’m Corey,” he felt himself blush under her gaze.

   “Juliet,” she smiled. “You don’t look much like a serial killer.”

   “What!” Corey laughed.

   “Never mind, I’ll tell you all about it later,” she picked up her knapsack and sleeping bag. “There’s a cafe outside the station. We can swap information there and get to know one another better.”

   “Great,” Corey walked beside her as she continued to chatter.

Over cold drinks and scones they told one another about their lives. Juliet’s eyes grew sad when she heard Corey’s story.

   “God, it must have been awful, the foster homes and stuff,” she said.

   “Some were not so bad,” he tried to shrug the memory off. “But some were a nightmare and speaking of such, I was wondering what your dreams are about.”

   “It’s crazy, ok,” Juliet said. “I dream of another me,” she played with some fallen crumbs. “I see myself in another place and time. At least, I think it is me, but I’m not sure.”

   “Mine are the same,” Corey gasped. “I keep dreaming about the castle and I hear its name in my head all the time.”

   “You think that’s weird,” Juliet said. “Listen to this.”

She told him about the night before and the shadow self she saw in the mirror.

   “Have you ever seen a giant sort of man thing?” Corey asked. “He’s about seven foot tall and dressed all in black.”

   “I thought I saw something once,” Juliet said. “It was in the garden of my aunt’s house, but it was only there for a fraction of a second. I put it down to imagination or a trick of the light.”

   “I’ve seen it up close and it’s no trick of the imagination,” Corey grew pale at the memory. “It’s the scariest thing I have ever seen, besides the monster dog, that it.”

   “A monster dog,” Juliet’s eyes grew wide.

   “It was huge, like a small cow and its eyes were red as fire,” Corey said.

   “Wow,” Juliet found it hard to take everything in.

She reached up to twiddle with her hair, something she did when she was stressed.

   “Ouch,” she gasped as a nail snagged on the chain around her neck.

   “Are you OK?” Corey asked.

   “Yes, I’ve broken a nail and it’s snagged on my chain,” she stood and leaned across the table. “Can you open the clasp for me?”

   “Sure,” Corey pulled aside a mass of thick, red hair and pulled back the little clasp that held the chain in place.

   “Thanks,” Juliet let the pendant fall in to her hand. “Damn, that’s always happening and just when I get my nails to the right length.”

Corey reached inside his shirt and pulled his chain free. The twin phoenix’s glittered in the watery sunlight.

   “Juliet,” he whispered. “Look.”

Shadow Self-chapter seventeen

Posted by Gemma Mawdsley Blog on July 29, 2020
Posted in: birdsong, hope faith God whispers heaven, books, changelings, Dwarfs, Eerie Places, elves, enemies, Fairies, Fantasy, fiction, folklore, gloom, Goblins, Gothic, Gothic novel, hidden worlds, Ireland's past, Irish folklore, kings, legend, magic, queens, scary, strange worlds, teenagers, teenegers, wise women, Witchcraft, Witches, wizards, writers, writing, young adults. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Bargamore

Present Day

Queen Heather stood on the balcony overlooking the main square and stared into the distance. At any other time, she would have enjoyed the view over the land of Bargamore, but not today. Her eyes saw none of the breath-taking beauty of the skyline and the domes, spires and turrets of the houses were mere shadows, as tears clouded her vision. It would soon be her daughter’s eighteenth birthday. This is a significant time to both human and elfin, as it marks the transition from childhood to adulthood, but more so for the elfin. When anyone living within the land beneath the earth reaches the age of eighteen the aging process slows down, and they continue to live for hundreds of years. It was not just the milestone year that troubled the queen, but the change she saw in her daughter as the time drew near. She was running wild in the company of Lady Blackthorn’s son, Sabba. She put it down to the impetuousness of youth, but there were other signs that all was not well with the children. They had become secretive, whispering, and plotting together for hours on end.

Amber’s door was locked each time her mother tried to enter, and she saw furtiveness in her smallest actions. The king watched his wife’s restless pacing. Haunted by her suffering and that of Lady Blackthorn, he had vowed no other women would share such pain. If the elfin race were to die out, then so be it. The wise women cast spells and brewed potions until a cure was found for the sickness, but it came too late for his wife and her friend. He walked out to the balcony and put his arms around her.

   “We will find out the truth,” he said.

He sent word to his daughter and Sabba summoning them to the throne room, but they had disappeared. After a tense meeting with, Larkeon, the dwarf chosen to tutor the children, they felt afraid and confused. The children were missing for the second time that week, he told them, and they had become secretive.

   “They are very young,” the queen tried to excuse their behaviour.

   “They are of royal blood and with that come certain obligations,” the king roared. “It is up to them to set standards for others.”

   “But they are not of royal blood,” the queen’s words hung in the air.

Larkeon, who was one of the few who knew that the children were changelings, did his best to ease the tension.

   “They may not be elfin in the true sense, but they developed our powers,” he said. “I have been studying them, majesties and I saw what they can do. The princess is the most powerful of all.”

   “How can this be and what sort of powers?” The queen asked.

   “Like all mortals and have adjusted to their surroundings. They have a sort of telepathy between one another and with…” his voice trailed off.

   “With what?” The veins bulged on the king’s forehead.

   “Beings the princess calls their shadow self,” the dwarf gulped. “Mortals from the world above. Two beings she says are their mirror image. It had gone further than telepathy, I fear. The princess has mastered the art of astral projections and has been in contact with them. They feel the need for this now because they have learned of our troubles.”

   “How can that be?” The queen asked.

   “There are rumours,” Larkeon said. “Someone has been whispering in their ears.”

There was no need to ask who, as the king called for his guards and issued a summons. They returned in minutes and dumped a body at his feet. Hack, a dwarf, who believed that he was the greatest newspaper reported ever, looked up at the king.

   “What have you been saying to the princess,” the king spoke through gritted teeth. “Do not lie to me.”

   “Just what I heard,” Hack said. “About the castle, and the mortal who wishes to destroy it.”

   “You hear things because you spy on us and lurk in corners like some vile rodent,” the king fumed.

   “No, majesty,” the dwarf begged. “I would never spy on you. It came from one of the Ereban hags.”

   “You have been consorting with the Erebans?” The king could not believe his ears.

   “Only to learn the news, majesty.”

   “Get out of my sight,” the king roared at Hack.

There was no denying what the dwarf said was true. A local man from the mortal world was running a campaign to knock Culdoplin Castle, and for those within the hidden world, this could mean death.

Shadow Self-chapter sixteen

Posted by Gemma Mawdsley Blog on July 28, 2020
Posted in: birdsong, hope faith God whispers heaven, books, changelings, Dwarfs, Eerie Places, elves, enemies, Fairies, Fantasy, fiction, folklore, gloom, Goblins, Gothic, Gothic novel, hidden worlds, Ireland's past, Irish folklore, kings, legend, magic, queens, scary, strange worlds, teenagers, teenegers, wise women, Witchcraft, Witches, wizards, wonder, writers, writing, young adults. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

 Juliet pulled the covers up to her chin and looked towards the window. Something strange was happening, and she had no idea what it was, but she sensed there was danger, out there, in the darkness. It was proving to be another restless night, and she would be exhausted in the morning. The comforting glow of the computer screen helped to allay her fears a little, and when she heard the familiar ping of an incoming message, she sat up. It was from Corey. She read what he had written and felt her heart ache, as his story unfolded. His words echoed all the things she tried to keep hidden. He told her about his life, how he felt removed from everyone else and the terrible longing to find out the truth. That is, it, Juliet thought, I am taking a chance. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she wrote.

      Ok, here is what is happening. I am interested in archaeology and it is just some weird coincidence, but my teacher was offered a dig at a castle called Culdoplin. It is short notice, but we must leave tomorrow.  I told Mr Thomas, he is leading the dig by the way, that you are my cousin and want to come along. I am not sure that I have made the right decision yet, but anyway he said you can. I am attaching the map of where it is. I don’t know where you’re travelling from, I think the best place to meet is at the station at Brittlestown. If we meet up an hour or so before the train, we can exchange information about ourselves, so Mr Thomas is not suspicious. If you do turn out to be a weirdo, I can have you arrested. Brittlestown is the final part of the journey and about an hour away from the village of Ballibrock. The castle is on the outskirts of the village. You will need a sleeping bag, but they supply tents and food. The dig should last for about four weeks, but it may be longer. Email me the minute you get this and let me know what you want to do.

Corey looked up at the ceiling and thought of those who slept overhead. Would they manage without him for that length of time? He bit his lip and felt his stomach spasm at the thought of not being able to go with Juliet. He had to find out the reason for the dream and the strange things he saw the night before. The others survived on the streets for years; they would be fine without him. He placed his fingers on the keys and began to type. Pressing the send button, he smiled; aware he had sealed his fate.

They were sad to see him go. Annie and Tom felt Corey needed the change after his months of hard work, and they had enough to keep the house going. His sudden decision to go on the dig was no surprise to those who were used to the comings and goings of the street-dwellers.

Corey leaned out of the train window and waved until he could no longer see his family. They all insisted on coming to see him off, and it turned in to an emotional parting as Jamie started to sniffle.

 He sat back in his seat and smiled as the train picked up speed, and his stomach flipped when he thought of what lay ahead. There were few passengers, and this meant he could stow his sleeping bag and knapsack on the opposite seat. The journey would take over three hours, and Annie had packed him some sandwiches and a drink in case he got hungry. His sleep was disturbed since his first sighting of the Thing and the Monster Dog. The nights now held a new and more threatening terror than he had ever known on the streets. The rocking of the train relaxed him, and he closed his eyes and listened to the whispers from the wheels as they clackity-clacked. To his tired brain they seemed to be saying “going back, going back, going back,” and he did not realise that he was whispering the words along with them. Juliet would get there twenty minutes before him; she informed him in one the dozens of emails that whizzed back and forth between them throughout the night. She would be waiting on the platform when his train pulled in. He asked her how he would recognise him, and her reply still puzzled him. Look for someone who looks as though her head is on fire. 

He woke with a jolt, and realised they were now deep in the heart of the countryside. He shuffled closer to the window and looked out at the strange, unfamiliar landscape speeding by. He had looked up the area on his computer and read a little about its history. None of the pictures on the screen prepared him for what he saw. The land was covered with huge stones, some long and flat, reminding him of ancient tombs. Others were standing, and he knew from his research they dated back to the time of the Druids. As the miles passed, he saw rings forts, the tombs of fallen warriors and old castles.  There were dozens of ruined, ivy-covered churches, their spires the only thing that marked what they once were. Other than a few sheep grazing on the grass between the stones, there was no other sign of life. It was understandable in such a barren and desolate place, where most of the inhabitants left to find work in the towns and cities.  This was evident in the hundreds of ruined cottages that dotted the land, their jagged bricks thrusting like skeleton arms through the dark earth. What connection I have with this strange place, Corey wondered, as the train brought him closer and closer to the truth.

Shadow Self-chapter fifteen

Posted by Gemma Mawdsley Blog on July 27, 2020
Posted in: birdsong, hope faith God whispers heaven, books, changelings, Dwarfs, Eerie Places, elves, enemies, Fairies, Fantasy, fiction, folklore, Gothic novel, hidden worlds, Ireland's past, Irish folklore, kings, legend, magic, queens, revenge, strange worlds, teenagers, teenegers, wise women, Witchcraft, Witches, wonder, writers, writing, young adults. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

After a restless sleep, the first thing Juliet did when she woke was send an email to Mr Thomas thanking him for including her in the dig. She paused for a moment and bit her lip before continuing to type. My cousin Corey is staying with us for the summer. He is into archaeology and would love to come with me, if that’s possible? She had no idea why she did this, it was just an impulse. Then she wrote back to the boy calling himself Corey.   Ok, so we had the same dream,” she wrote. So what? It is probably some movie we saw years ago and we are just remembering it. Anyway, for all I know you could be some axe murderer.”

She would wait for his reply and see what he had to say. After all, he could be some pervert who had heard about the castle and using it to lure some unsuspecting girl to her death. Her parents were always warning her about talking to strangers on the net, so she was not taking any chances.

Juliet spent the rest of the day in a flurry of packing and unpacking. Her mother sat on the bed and watched as she rifled through drawers and opened boxes to find what she was looking for. A large rucksack lay on top of the quilt. Juliet threw an assortment of underwear, socks and pyjamas towards it and her mother folded everything neatly and packed them inside.

   “Are you taking a dress?” Her mother asked.

   “It’s going to be all work and no play,” Juliet assured her.

Her mother sighed and sat back against the pillows. Juliet stopped and looked over at her. Despite the country air, her mother’s face looked gaunt and dark shadows swooped beneath her eyes. There had to be something other than the move worrying her.

Juliet had no idea how many times her mother studied her face and wondered what went on behind her daughter’s tilted, green eyes. What quality Juliet possessed that made her so different from her sister. My fairy child, her mother sometimes thought of her. She would miss her so much over the coming weeks.

   “Found it,” Kim came running in followed by her father.

He carried Juliet’s rolled up sleeping bag.

   “Can I have your laptop while you’re gone,” Kim jumped up and down on the bed.

   “No, I’m taking it with me,” Juliet said and turning to her mother asked. “Don’t let her in here while I’m gone, will you?”

Later, everyone had gone to bed and the house settled for the night. Juliet sat at her dressing table and listened to the sounds that once frightened her. The groans of the floorboards settling and the fluttering of bat wings from the attic no longer held any terror for her. Her stomach did somersaults when she thought about the following morning and the journey ahead. She could not wait to meet some of her school friends again. Her stomach felt the way it did when she was a child on the night before Christmas; that excited, expectant feeling wondering what the morning would bring. Mr Thomas wrote and said her cousin was welcome to come along. All she had to do now was wait for a reply from that Corey guy. The mirror shimmered before her eyes and she blinked, blaming tiredness. She leaned closer and peered into its depths. Her eyes were dark pools in the dim light of the bedside lamp, and she held her breath and watched as shadows skimmed across the surface of her pupils. A figure appeared in the glass. At first, she was not sure where it had come from. She spun round, to see if it was behind her. When she turned back it was still there. It looked like her. The hair was the same colour, the eyes a little less slanted than hers, and the clothes it wore were beautiful and from another time.

   “Are you real,” she asked the reflection. “Am I really Juliet Wilson?” 

Her shadow-self shook its head before disappearing.

   “I’m asleep,” Juliet whispered. “I’m asleep and dreaming all this.”

Out in the hallway someone switched on the bathroom light. The familiar sound of muffled footsteps on the carpet and the clicking of the door latch, told her she was wide awake.

Outside, in the garden and hidden by the trees, a dark shape looked up at Juliet’s window. If what he heard was true, then the girl who lived inside might be the key to bringing about the downfall of the hidden world. He drew back his lips in a feral grin and faded into the night.

Shadow Self-chapter eleven

Posted by Gemma Mawdsley Blog on July 21, 2020
Posted in: birdsong, hope faith God whispers heaven, changelings, Dwarfs, Eerie Places, elves, enemies, Fairies, Fantasy, fiction, folklore, Goblins, Gothic, Gothic novel, hidden worlds, Ireland's past, Irish folklore, kings, legend, magic, queens, revenge, scary, strange worlds, teenagers, wise women, Witchcraft, wizards, writers, writing, young adults. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Corey and his new family settled into the house. The first few weeks seemed a rollercoaster of emotions, as they sorted through the outbuildings. In one, he found his father’s old bike. Though rusted and with flat tyres, they restored it, so Corey had a means of transport. Even since he was old enough to work, he took whatever jobs he could find. The latest was an evening job in a burger joint. This, on top of Tom’s pension, kept the house running. Corey had been saving for years and most of his wages went into the bank. The savings book was under an insole in his runners, and it was this money he used to buy the things they needed. The electricity was back on, and he now had a power point for the second-hand computer he had managed to buy. Most of the homeless kept in contact this way, as the internet cafés gave them the much-needed shelter from the cold and provided them with a means of communications. Corey had hundreds of friends, and though the lives of most of those who lived rough could be transient, he managed to keep in touch with most of them. Life was good for him, though he was exhausted from the long bike ride to and from the town. The hours on his feet serving customers were hard, but he would not swap what he had for the world. Annie let him sleep in most days, as he sometimes did not get home until the early hours of the morning. Today was no exception and the house was quiet when he woke. The others were outside enjoying the good weather. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Corey swung his legs on to the floor. His night was restless and filled with the familiar dream about knights and castles. I am getting too old for fairy tales, he thought, as he walked down the corridor to the bathroom. This room was freezing, and goose pimples rose on his skin, as he turned on the hot tap. Calling it hot was a bit of an exaggeration. He was dozy from sleep, and he leant against the sink and watched as it began to fill. Lights danced on the water, bright gold, purple and red merged and started to take shape. He looked around him, wondering what caused such colours, but there was nothing in the stark, black, and white bathroom to account for it. Corey stared into the water and watched open-mouthed as a figure appeared. It was crazy, like watching TV under water. He leaned closer as the figure became clearer. It was a girl, red hair floated about a pale face and her huge eyes were filled with a silent pleading. Her lips moved and a word echoed from far away, “Culdoplin.”

Then she was gone, the colours faded, and the water lay still. Corey’s heart pounded so much it hurt. That was his word, the word whispered in his dreams. What did it mean? Too frightened to wash, he sprayed deodorant under his arms and ran from the room.

The alley smelt of stale beer, vomit, and rotten food. Corey wrinkled his nose in disgust, as he hauled two black sacks of rubbish over to the dumpsters. The bulb in the streetlamp beside the dumpsters had blown, so they were deep in shadow. A bottle clattered across the yard and the sound sent his heart racing. As he threw the bags in among the other rubbish, it came again.

   “Is someone there?” He asked, imagining it to be some homeless person in search of food.

There was a dry, shuffling sound, as though something was unfolding itself after hours in one, prone position. It moved out of the shadows and started to walk towards him. Corey’s legs filled with lead and he could not get them to move. It kept advancing until the Thing was right in front of him. What he saw made his heart spasm. It towered above him, so he had to put his head back to look at it. Its face was ashen, its lips bloodless and drawn back over sharp vicious-looking teeth. The only colour, for want of a better word, was the blackness of the eyes. Like fathomless pools of darkness, they scanned his face, and he saw in them his own reflection. A hand reached out, more claw than hand, with long, pointed nails.

   “You are the one,” it rasped, the sound tearing at the boy’s ears.

Oh god, Corey thought this is how I am going to die, alone in a filthy alley and murdered by some freak. As the claw moved closer, he closed his eyes. When nothing happened, he peeped under the lids to find the Thing was distracted by something. He heard the deep growl before he saw the beast. It was a huge, black dog, the size of a small cow and it was advancing on the Thing. Its red eyes blazed as the Thing covered its face with the sleeve of its black cloak. Corey did not wait to see anymore, but turned and ran back into the burger bar, slamming and bolting the door behind him.