Toxic

Chapter 5

I'm just drifting off to sleep that night, when there is a loud thud on the bedroom window. The noise breaks through my dreamy haze and I leap out of bed.

It's pitch black outside, being three in the morning and all.

I let the curtain swing back and I'm just about to get into bed again when there comes another almighty crash against the window pane.

No, not a bang, more of a ...knock?

I drew back the curtain once more, still unable to see.

I stick my feet into my slipper boots, grab a jacket and tiptoe down the stairs, skipping the step halfway down that creaks.

I enter the back living room. What if it's burglars?

Still, I very much doubt that they'd knock at my bedroom window. Unless it was unintentional.

The patio doors lead out into the garden and my hand rests on the handle, all set to turn it, while at the same time I wonder about going back to bed.

The breath catches in my throat.

A shadowy figure is lurking by the shed, crouching down on all fours.

Not a burglar then.

I press the handle downwards, and a glacial blast of air rushes into the room. Frost glints on the grass, sparkling in the moonlight.

The figure takes a step forwards and I flick on the patio lights quickly.

Let this be a dream, please let this be a dream.

A dark haired boy emerges from the shadows. His skin is scaly, and he has two bright green slits for eyes. He is wearing a torn shirt and black jeans but his feet are bare.

A low, reptilian hiss leaves his throat, and I'm horrified as he comes closer.

"Andre?" I stammer out.

He opens his mouth again, and I see a forked tongue licking ivory fangs.

"I'll save you, I promise." I whisper, even though as I'm saying this I'm repulsed by his appearance.

His snake-like eyes lock onto mine, and he halts for a moment, before lashing around and soaring over the fence out of sight.

I'm still spooked by what Andre had become, but I had to focus on the task at hand.

"The ice bomb is probably effective enough to overcome the venom in Rosalind's blood. There is no specific spell to combat the poison, because she is the first of her kind. The fact that she has lived for so long suggests that if anyone had previously tried to defeat her, then they were unsuccessful. This particular spell will freeze the venom. I cannot guarantee it will work, but you must try."

Gran doesn't sugar coat things. She gets straight to the point.

"So how do we make an ice bomb?"

"You must discover which elements you can master. I do hope you can control water, ice and fire in particular, but if not we shall work around it. My strength lies in water, so perhaps yours will too. But we shall soon see."

I stand up, anxious to get going. Even now, Rosalind could be sucking the life of him.

"Can I practise with the pond in the garden?" I ask her.

"Call me if you need help, love," she smiles proudly as if she's confident that I won't need any.

I make my way out into the back garden. In one corner, there's still an old outdoor toilet, and in the other, a large fishpond.