Phoebe Wren and the Vortex of Light (5 page)

“July 14
th
? But that means… Demetrius, that means… Where are my parents? Please, you’ve got to tell me where they are!”

“Phoebe, are you okay? I know you can be crazy sometimes, but what’s with the drama? You’re starting to freak me out a little bit.” Demetrius’s amusement had faded into concern as he realised that Phoebe seemed genuinely agitated about her parents’ whereabouts.

“It’s okay, Bird, they’re at the hospital. They’re both on duty and my Aunt said you could stay with us until this evening. Remember? You said you’d love to spend the afternoon with us, considering that you’re…” Demetrius’s face fell. “Well, you’re leaving tomorrow…”

Tomorrow
. The word hit Phoebe like a tonne of bricks as the full realisation of where and, more importantly,
when
she was dawned on Phoebe. Demetrius’s voice had trailed off and Phoebe could see the sadness in his brown eyes at the prospect of losing his best friend to a land so far away and inaccessible to him. Phoebe and Demetrius were as close as she and Ella were but in Demetrius, Phoebe also had the big brother she had always secretly hoped for. He was kind and thoughtful, maybe even a bit over protective – she would never have admitted it to him, but she loved that about him, she loved that he fussed over her and needed to know every detail about where she was, with whom, and how long she would be out. Phoebe used to jokingly tell Demetrius that he was more like her dad than her Dad was, and would simply laugh mischievously at him when he tried to protest.

Phoebe gathered her jumbled thoughts as best she could, mentally reaching inside her head and grabbing them as they zoomed around in the most disorderly manner. She had no idea how or why this bizarre twist of fate had happened, and she could not even begin to make sense of it, but for now she wanted to grab this incredible gift with both hands – if this was not a dream, then she had just been handed a
second chance
, and she did not intend to waste it.

“Can we call at the hospital please? Just quickly. I’ve, um, forgotten to check where Mum packed my iPod.”

Phoebe tried to sound casual, like this was just a typical day, but given the circumstances that was no mean feat. She trusted Demetrius with her life, and fully intended to tell him the entire story in all its weirdness, but she needed to see her parents first, to make absolutely sure that she wasn’t dreaming.

“Sure thing, whatever you need Phoebe,” Demetrius said, and the two of them did a sharp turnaround and headed briskly in the direction of Medical Miracles Hospital.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Demetrius enquired as they walked, squinting his eyes as he peered sideways at his friend.

“Oh, uh, yeah… Yes, I’m fine… I’m just a bit, uh, well I’m nervous about tomorrow. It’s a big move we’re making.” Phoebe worked hard to sound normal.
‘Nervous about tomorrow’
– given the happenings of the last few weeks that was definitely an understatement!

Phoebe and Demetrius made the short trip to the hospital where Jack and Eva Wren were finishing their last shifts as surgeons with Medical Miracles. They passed through the automatic glass doors, and Phoebe followed the painted yellow line on the ground that lead to her parents’ office on the third floor.
‘My own yellow brick road’
she mused silently, and a wry smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. As the two friends rounded the corner on to the corridor that housed the Wrens’ office, Eva was just pulling the door shut behind her. She was dabbing a little at her eyes, obviously moved and tearful to have just finished her last surgery in Africa.

“Mum!” Phoebe yelled as she broke into a gallop down the dusky pink painted corridor. “
Mum!
” Phoebe flung herself into Eva’s arms, catching her mother completely off guard and almost knocking her over.

“I’m so happy to see you Mum! I thought I would never…” Phoebe was desperately fighting back tears, and clinging to her mother as though she might never let go.

Eva Wren was bemused. “Hello sweetie,” she laughed. “Well, you definitely know how to cheer me up after my final surgery. Hey Dem.” She waved a casual hand at Demetrius, who was surveying the encounter with puzzled curiosity.

“Hello Mrs. Wren,” Demetrius smiled at Eva. Jack and Eva were like surrogate parents to Demetrius, who had lost his own parents in a tragic accident several years ago. He felt entirely at ease with the Wrens, and had always appreciated their total acceptance of him as their ‘adopted’ son.

Phoebe checked herself before her peculiar behaviour aroused too much suspicion – of course her mother couldn’t possibly fathom the overwhelming joy behind this reunion. As far as Eva was concerned, she had left her daughter with Demetrius and his aunt earlier that morning to spend a final day with them before the Wrens returned to Ireland. If Phoebe told her about the last five weeks of her life as an orphan, her mum would think she was making the whole thing up.

“Where’s Dad?” asked Phoebe, regaining her composure and working hard at coming across as if nothing odd was happening.

“Dad’s still in theatre, Love. He’ll be another couple of hours. I’ve got some goodbyes to say, so I’ll see you at home this evening, okay?”

“Yep, that’s okay Mum. I’ll see you then.”

Phoebe turned to leave, and remembered her thoughts from –
when?
– this morning probably. “I love you, Mum,” she said. “A lot.”

“Aww, thank you sweetheart,” Eva smiled lovingly at her beloved girl. “I love you too, Phoebe. You know that, right?”

“I do, Mamma. I really do.”

Phoebe and Demetrius exited the hospital and headed back towards Demetrius’s house. Phoebe was smiling broadly, and Demetrius was glad to see his friend so happy, although given her imminent departure her jovial mood grated on him just a little, and he reprimanded himself for being selfish – of course she should be excited to be going home and reuniting with her family, right? Demetrius was genuinely glad for his friend, but he had also hoped that she would be as irked about them being separated as he was. Perhaps he had been wrong to think that she would be as upset as he was, and his pride felt just a little dented.

“I’m gonna miss you, you know,” Demetrius admitted, and smiled sadly at Phoebe. He could hardly imagine not seeing her every day, not having her there to adventure and explore with.

“Aww, I know Dem, I’m going to miss you too – a whole lot! But I have a feeling that we have things to do before I go anywhere…” Phoebe caught hold of her friend’s arm and stopped him in his tracks.

“Sit with me a minute, Dem,” Phoebe said, and Demetrius could see from her face that she wanted to talk. The pair found a large flat stone and sat down together. Phoebe took her time, lapping up the African sunshine, enjoying Demetrius’s presence with her, and the knowledge that her parents were, somehow, alive and well and not buried in a graveyard in Ireland.

“Dem, you trust me, right?” Phoebe was looking her loyal best friend right in the eyes, and knew the answer to her question before Demetrius replied.

“Of course I do, Bird, I trust you more than anyone else I know,” Demetrius studied Phoebe’s face, suddenly nervous. “What’s up, Phoebe? You’ve been acting weird for the last hour or two.”

“This is gonna sound a little, well,
odd
Dem,” Phoebe hesitated. “I barely know where to begin.”

“It’s okay. Whatever it is Phoebe, you can tell me.”

Phoebe smiled at her friend, took a deep breath, and began to recount the strange events of the last few weeks. She told Demetrius how she and her parents had almost missed their flight, how the plane had gotten into trouble and crashed, how the Quills had taken her in and how she had struggled to come to terms with life without her parents. Demetrius listened intently, his facial expression unchanging except for an almost imperceptible elevation of one eyebrow every now and again. If he thought she was mad, his countenance never betrayed him, and he did not interrupt or tell her to stop being silly.

Phoebe continued with her curious tale. She spoke slowly and concisely, aware how ludicrous it must all sound, but aware too that Demetrius seemed to be taking it all on board. She told him of the angelic beings she was sure had been with her, and how, looking back, there were times that she now suspected they had been there too. Like the time she had fallen from the tree outside the family home, landing badly on her neck. Six year old Phoebe’s parents had been frantic, sure that she had a spinal injury, insisting on rushing her to hospital, but Phoebe had been none the worse for her misadventure. Or the day before her eleventh birthday when a runaway tractor with a blown tyre had swerved at the last second to avoid her, but the shaken farmer swore that he had not been able to make any avoidance manoeuvres.

Phoebe told Demetrius of her mysterious encounter at the crash site, and about her crazy journey back through time via the vortex of light. She was aware just how bizarre her tale was. She probably would never have believed it herself had it not been her own voice that she heard relaying events.

“…and so here I am,” she concluded, “Back where I started, but with another chance. Do you think I’m deluded? Have I lost the plot?” Phoebe looked at Demetrius, hoping that his face would give her some clue as to what was going through his head. She desperately wanted him to tell her that she wasn’t crazy, that he believed every word, and that everything would be alright.

Demetrius didn’t respond straight away. He was obviously gathering his thoughts, taking on board all his friend had just told him, and considering all the possibilities. Phoebe always appreciated this about Demetrius – when she asked for his advice, he never just blabbed out the first thing that came into his head. He would mull things over, thinking long and hard before delivering his considered response. He was wise beyond his years, and Phoebe had the utmost respect for Demetrius’s opinions. But today, she just wanted his reassurance – and sooner rather than later. Finally, after what seemed like forever but what was, in reality, probably just a few moments, Demetrius spoke.

“It’s like this, Phoebe. I believe that there is a world we can’t see, a world outside of ours. I believe that there are angels and there are demons – our protectors and those opposed to them. And I also believe that the Atoner gives His angels instructions to guard us, so when it comes down to it I actually have no problem believing what you have just said. The Atoner must have a job that needs doing, and you’re obviously the girl to do it. The vortex thing – now that
is
a bit crazy, but hey, who am I to question how the Atoner gets things done?”

A familiar and reassuring grin spread across Demetrius’s face, and Phoebe felt herself relax into a grin of her own.

“Really? You believe me? Just like that? Oh Dem, thank you! What would I do without you?”

“You’d be goosed, Bird. That’s the long and short of it,” grinned Demetrius.

Phoebe gave her friend a playful punch as she jumped to her feet. “Okay, what now? I have no idea why I’m back here and I don’t know how to go about finding out. Demetrius? Dem? Any thoughts?”

Phoebe looked up at her friend and found his eyes fixed ahead of him.

“Finding out what you’re meant to do may not be just as difficult as you think…” said Demetrius in quiet, almost whispered tones. As his voice trailed off, Phoebe saw that his jaw had dropped slightly open and he was gazing intently into the horizon. She followed his gaze and had to plop back down on to the rock in sheer surprise when her eyes locked on to what Demetrius had spotted. There, no more than ten feet away, was a figure – a giant, muscular,
glowing
figure!

“Dem…” Phoebe grabbed Demetrius’s hand. “So I
wasn’t
dreaming! That’s an… It’s a… He’s an…”

“…an angel.” Demetrius finished Phoebe’s sentence for her as the teenagers stood to their feet and gawped like dumb-struck children at the imposing creature that was approaching them. “Yes Bird, I can definitely see that…”

“Phoebe,” Cosain’s voice was authoritative but gentle. “Phoebe, don’t be afraid. We have been sent to help you. I am Cosain, Captain of the Heavenly Host, and the Atoner’s commander in chief. The Atoner has a job for you to do. It is crucial to your future and will affect more people than you could realise. I cannot fully explain now, but we must hurry, there is not a lot of time.”

Phoebe and Demetrius were rooted to the spot, and neither knew whether to stand there and hear what the angel had to say, or run away screaming. A part of Phoebe still believed herself to be dreaming, and she shook her head and blinked, half expecting the eight foot stranger to vanish. But he did not vanish. Instead, Cosain held out his hand to the wary teenagers, beckoning them towards him. As Phoebe and Demetrius moved tentatively towards Cosain, suddenly the rest of his troop appeared, resplendent and ready for the task at hand. Cosain smiled at the angelic warriors, so unwavering and dedicated to the task in hand.

“This is Phoebe Wren, the one to whom the Atoner has assigned this task.” Cosain smiled again at a bewildered Phoebe and then introduced her to the other warriors.