Jane entered the lounge after spending a couple of hours in the garden. James and Lola were sitting on the sofa, their bodies so close that even a credit card would have trouble slipping between them. It was obvious from the way they looked at and touched each other they didn’t want to be disturbed.
Jane tried to stop the dull, empty feeling from sinking into her stomach, but it was determined to anchor itself. She slipped quietly past one of the armchairs hoping not to disturb them, but James spotted her.
‘Why so sad, Jane?’ he asked, sitting forward. ‘Mark’s resolved the problem and Lola is safe.’
Jane glanced at Lola and their eyes met briefly before Jane looked away.
‘Jane is sad because she believes she created me to heal the crystals and she feels responsible for anything that happens to me,’ Lola said gently.
‘Rubbish! Anyway, nothing is going to happen to you,’ James said, touching Lola’s face.
Jane went to speak, but Lola spoke first, ‘My sweetest love, there is still a risk. I don’t have the energy to clear all the infected crystals. There are too many.’
‘But…’
Lola stopped James from speaking with a finger on his lips. ‘Mark will have to call up the energy of the universe to help me.’
‘So?’ James didn’t want to listen. Jane could see his resistance as his body stiffened.
‘So, I will not survive. The energy of the universe will spread the healing, but to bring balance, it takes energy from its surroundings and it will completely absorb me.’
James shook his head violently. ‘No it may not! Lola, it may not!’ he cried desperately.
Jane sniffed back the tears as she watched James fight to hold back his.
‘I… I thought Mark had found a safe solution,’ he stammered.
Lola took his face in her hands and kissed him softly. She said, ‘He has. He’s made it safe for me to transmit my energy to the crystals. I won’t become infected, but I cannot protect myself from the energy of the universe. It has to go through me.’
‘I don’t understand why you have to die.’
Lola snuggled closer to him. ‘I won’t be dead, I will have transformed into something else. You will see me in every crystal, in every rock.’
Tears were flowing down James’s face.
‘Don’t be sad, my love. You will feel me and I will be with you, always.’ Lola smiled. ‘Think of this as being the greatest journey of my life, please don’t be angry or upset. I want this, and I want your love to be with me, not your sadness.’
Jane took out a tissue from her trousers and wiped away her own tears. Even though she felt sad, she also felt a strange happiness that seemed to be coming from her heart. A feeling of wonderment seemed to be lifting her spirit and when she looked over to James, she could see it happening to him too.
At that moment, Mark entered the room; he stopped for a moment, sensing the atmosphere.
James got up when he saw him and Mark unconsciously took a step back.
‘What are the results?’ James asked stiffly.
Mark cleared his throat before answering. ‘Good. All crystals are virus free and vibrating at an incredible level.’
‘But you can’t save my Lola,’ James said flatly.
Mark shook his head guiltily, his body tensing ready for James’s reaction. ‘I can’t find a way. I’m so sorry.’
James gave a big sigh and stepped forward. Mark stepped back further and flinched as James’s hands fell on to his shoulders. ‘Thank you for trying,’ he said softly. Without saying another word, he returned to the sofa and sat down next to Lola.
Mark stood rigid in shock. Jane could see confusion on his face.
‘Do we need to go to the mine?’ James asked, pushing back Lola’s red hair from her face. ‘If Lola needs the universal energy to do this, why don’t we just go straight to Ferrand’s mine?’
Jane looked at James in disbelief. ‘Now?’ she quizzed him.
James shook his head. ‘I would like some more time with Lola before we do this.’ He looked at Lola. ‘Have we time?’
Lola smiled, her hand resting on his chest over his heart. ‘We have as much time as you need.’
* * *
Mark and Jane lay in bed snuggled in each other’s arms. Jane could sense something was wrong for Mark had gone quiet. ‘What’s bothering you?’ she asked softly.
‘It’s been a week since I perfected the master crystal and tomorrow we go to Ferrand’s mine.’ He paused as if trying to find the right words. He finally said, ‘I don’t know if I can do this.’
Jane raised her head and looked at him. ‘Why?’
‘Because if it was you, instead of Lola, I don’t think I could bear to lose you.’
Jane had to admit that very thought had been on her mind too. ‘It’s a hard decision, yes, but if you don’t do it, we all die anyway.’
She heard Mark moan. ‘I’d be happier if you weren’t there. I want you to stay here.’
‘What’s wrong?’ She sat up worried.
‘Nothing.’ Mark diverted his gaze.
‘Nothing, my arse, tell me.’
Mark took a deep breath. ‘I don’t know what will happen when the energy is created. It’s going to be bigger than anything I have done before and it could destroy us all.’ His body relaxed as if, having finally said it, it removed the burden he had been carrying.
‘You think it’s going to be that powerful?’
‘I don’t know, I just think that to do what it needs to do, it has to be.’
Jane touched his face and waited until his eyes focused on her. ‘If we are going to die, then I want to die with you.’ He made to speak but she stopped him. ‘You can’t bear to lose me and I can’t live without you. I want us to be together, no matter what happens.’ She kissed him and he pulled her to him, returning her kiss with urgency. His lips moved down her neck, tasting her skin with his tongue. Gently he moved on top of her, holding her face in his hands and kissing her long and hard. Jane so much wanted this moment to last. Her need for him was overpowering, bursting uncontrollably out of her body as her nails dug into his skin and her body twisted in pleasure at his touch. They made love, joined in unison as one. A moment of pure ecstasy that felt like it lasted a lifetime.
* * *
The next morning Jane noticed that no one but Lola touched their breakfast. Her own stomach was churning and her whole body felt uneasy. James looked tired, as if he hadn’t slept, whereas Lola looked bright and happy. Mark was flicking through his notebook, reading a bit, then turning more pages. He looked nervous. ‘Is everything ready?’ Jane asked in a whisper, which seemed loud in the uncannily quiet room.
‘Yes, yes. Just checking my notes on the process.’ Mark looked at James. ‘I can’t tell you what to expect as I don’t know myself.’
James nodded gravely.
Mark continued, ‘But you need to know that the force of this energy could kill us all, not just Lola.’
Jane saw James’s face lighten as if this was good news. He became suddenly serious. ‘We’re all going to die now.’
Mark shook his head sadly. ‘I don’t know, but yes, it’s possible, unless you stay here.’
James gave a cough and in his most English accent he said, ‘My dear fellow, what an absurd suggestion. For King and Country.’ He raised his orange juice glass.
Jane stared at him.
His face broke into a smile and he began to laugh. Was this some kind of madness? she thought. Mark’s face must have reflected the same thought for James quickly said, ‘It’s okay, I’ve made my peace with this. I’m just trying to break up the tension in here.’
Mark took a deep breath. ‘Not exactly a good way to do it, James,’ he said quietly.
The atmosphere in the room changed and there was a sense of relief. Jane looked at Lola and knew this beautiful woman had brought something special to them all.
Lola smiled at her and said, ‘It’s time to go.’
Everyone seemed to hesitate, as if not doing anything would prevent it happening, but Lola got up. She was filled with excitement as if she was going on a holiday or going to some special celebration. Jane found it hard to conjure up those same feelings, but she got up too.
The journey to Ferrand’s mine didn’t seem to take as long as Jane remembered the last time they went there. Lola was sat with Jane in the back and didn’t stop talking all the way. She embraced the beauty of the land, pointing out to Jane the colours and shapes. The beautiful clear blue sky and the fluffy white clouds. Jane tried to see them as Lola did, but it was difficult to override the feeling of doom, the closer they got to the mine.
Lola sat back against the seat, breathless. She took Jane’s hand. ‘I want you to know why I’m so happy.’ She paused for a moment, closing her eyes as if savouring something really pleasurable. ‘Remember you experienced a part of my life, well, what you didn’t experience is the feeling I have always had. Hmm, how can I describe it to you? You know when something happens and it excites you and you can’t wait to do it?’
Jane nodded.
‘Well, this is it. I’m going to become what I’ve been created to do and it’s wonderful.’
Jane squeezed Lola’s hand. She couldn’t find any words to say.
‘And you know what the best part has been?’ Lola said.
‘What?’ Jane croaked.
‘I’ve experienced so much love.’
Jane swallowed hard. ‘That’s wonderful, Lola.’
The Jeep pulled up at the end of the track, close to the destroyed shacks and tents of the mine. Jane looked out and noticed everything was quite dark even though the sun was nearly overhead. ‘Is it safe?’ she asked Mark.
James opened the door and looked at the ground. ‘I’ve never seen anything like this before. Could the virus have spread on the surface?’
Mark opened his door. ‘I don’t know, but if it has we shouldn’t touch it.’ He looked over to what was left of the shacks and pointed to one that was partly still standing. ‘Pull up over there and we can step out from the Jeep to the steps. I need to unpack the crystal before we drive closer to the drill hole.’
James and Mark closed their doors and James drove them to the shack. He got out onto the step and helped Jane and Lola climb out from the back. Mark crawled over the seats to the back and retrieved the box the crystal was stored in.
Jane walked into the half-demolished shack. Tables and chairs had been smashed and part of the rear wall had been blown away. Bits of paper littered the floor. Stan has done a thorough job destroying this place, she thought. She moved forward and looked out of the broken rear wall. Crystal fragments lay scattered on the ground and they were all black. She gasped and stepped back into someone behind her. It was Mark.
‘No one touch the ground,’ he shouted and moved his gaze to the shack floor. ‘And keep away from the dark bits in the corners.’
Jane looked into his face, seeing the shock and worry in his expression. ‘Can we still do this?’ she asked.
Mark opened his box and pulled out his master crystal. ‘I don’t know,’ he answered softly. The crystal was glowing brightly and lit up the interior of the shack like a fluorescent light. ‘This master crystal should generate enough energy with…’
‘MARK!’ James sudden yell made them turn round. He was pointing to something above Lola’s head on the left-hand wall. It was a video camera.
‘Is it working?’ Mark asked anxiously moving towards it.
James nodded pointing to the little red flashing light.
‘DAMN!’ Mark pushed the crystal into Jane’s hands and, picking up a piece of table leg, he smashed the camera to bits.
‘What does this mean?’ Jane asked, feeling suddenly vulnerable.
Mark turned to her. ‘It means that Ferrand knows we’re here and he knows I have this.’ He pointed to the crystal she was holding. ‘We don’t have much time and we haven’t worked out how we are going to get to the drill hole without becoming infected.’
‘Hmm, yes we have,’ Lola said quietly, from the corner by the door. She pointed to her feet.
Lola was standing in the corner of the shack where Mark had spotted dark bits on the floor. The darkness was gone.
‘You think I have enough resistance to it to create a clear area?’
Mark looked at her and then the area outside. He seemed to be pondering something. ‘No.’
‘Why?’ James asked. Mark turned to him. ‘We can’t risk Lola being infected. If she becomes infected and we use the energy it will make things worse.’ He moved to Lola and pulled her away from the corner. ‘Do you feel anything negative?’
She smiled. ‘No. I’m good.’
He groaned. ‘I can’t even test you, to check.’
Jane saw something shiny catching the light in the corner. ‘Mark, look.’ She pointed to it.
He bent down and said, ‘Lola, you beauty. You stood on a crystal fragment?’
She nodded.
‘You didn’t have direct contact?’
She shook her head.
Mark kissed her on her cheek and moved back to the box. He pulled out the crystal pieces Lola had healed in the lab. ‘We can use these to create a safe pathway. Let’s go.’
They got back into the Jeep and drove to where the drill hole had been. All the equipment had been blown up and the only thing left was a hole of rubble with black crystal shards pointing out of it.
Mark gave them each a healed crystal. ‘Place this on the floor and stand on it. Wait until the darkness clears around it before moving it on. Try not to stand on the ground for too long as the crystal will only be able to clear the top surface for a short time.’
Lola gently placed her crystal to the ground and got out on to it. Within minutes the area around it cleared. She stepped off and moved the crystal further up towards the drill hole.
Jane placed her crystal in the same spot as Lola had placed hers and was able to step on the path spots Lola had left without fully using her own crystal. She followed Lola. James followed her and finally Mark.
When they reached the drill hole Mark noticed the debris. ‘I’ll have to clear the hole so that the master crystal can connect directly to the Vogel one beneath. I hope it hasn’t been too badly damaged.’
Lola took his crystal and her own, and held them to her heart before placing them either side of the hole. Minutes later, the rocks and crystal shards had lost the darkness and it was safe for Mark to clear it away.
Jane watched him work, her stomach twisting and cramping with anxiety. She had tried to prepare herself for this, but the fear of doing it, and also, of not doing it, made her feel sick. Every part of her wanted to run away and hide, to delude herself into thinking she would be okay and that this was nothing, or something someone else could deal with. Being here and experiencing the whole thing, was terrifying.
She heard Mark gasp and instinctively she moved forward. The rocks and broken crystal bits had been removed to reveal the tip of the Vogel crystal and it was like looking into a black hole. Mark began to groan. James leapt forward, dragging him back. Mark’s hands and face were etched with dark veins.
‘NO!’ Jane cried, moving James away, but Lola got in before her. She put the master crystal she was holding across Mark’s chest and placed her hands over it. It took only seconds before Mark’s appearance returned to normal.
‘Thank you,’ he said, breathing in deeply. Lola smiled and moved away so Jane could get closer. ‘I’m okay,’ he responded, to Jane’s anxious look. ‘But we need to hurry.’ He got up.
‘It’s time to say our goodbyes,’ Lola said quietly. ‘And for me to give you each a gift.’ She moved to Mark first. ‘You still have a powerful journey to undertake. You can do it. Thank you for doing this for me.’
Mark dropped his head. ‘For killing you?’
Lola kissed his cheek. ‘No, for giving me my destiny. Here is my gift to you.’
Jane saw Lola place her hand on his chest over his heart and something seemed to enter his body. It created a glow on his skin and she saw Mark smile.
Lola moved to her next. Jane could feel the tears in her eyes and a heaviness in her chest.
‘Lovely Jane, you have an inner strength that guides you well. I will treasure the time we have enjoyed together. Thank you for finding me.’
Tears were flowing down Jane’s face now, but she knew what she wanted to say. ‘You are amazing. So kind and gentle. I will miss you.’
Lola smiled, ‘I am but a reflection of you. Here is my gift to you.’
Lola placed her hand over Jane’s heart and it was like a warm flow of energy entering her body. It seemed to grow stronger, gently soothing the weight in her chest, washing away the fear in her belly and lifting her spirit so that she felt light and free. Jane smiled and then laughed. She hugged Lola and whispered, ‘Let’s play again sometime.’
Lola smiled and nodded her head.
Jane watched her move to James. She felt no sadness in her body as she watched Lola and James hug and kiss, for she knew that James and Lola would be okay.
Lola gently pulled away from James and held both hands to his heart. ‘You have shown me so much love and kindness. There are no words to describe how I feel.’
James touched her pale skin. ‘You are so beautiful, my Lady of Avalon. Everything you say is like nectar to my ears. Your touch is healing to my heart.’
Lola smiled even more. ‘For you I give everything. You have my heart.’ She kissed him again and stepped back. ‘It’s time.’
Jane and James made their way back along the clear path to stand by the Jeep. They could still see and hear what was happening, but were far enough away so as not to get in the way.
Mark gave Lola the master crystal and she held it to her heart. It began to glow brighter until its light seemed as strong as the sun. She kneeled at the drill hole and placed the crystal on to the tip of the Vogel. The light from the master crystal began to penetrate the Vogel, pushing back the virus.
‘Tell me when the Vogel is free of the virus,’ Mark yelled, as he searched in his trouser pocket for something.
Jane saw him pull out a crystal pyramid made from three crystal points joined together to form the shape. She recognised it as the gift Mark had been given from Michael, when he had saved the old man from the cliff fall. She hadn’t realised he still had it.
He placed it on the ground and knelt over it. ‘How’s it coming?’ he asked Lola.
Lola seemed to be struggling to hold onto the master crystal for the light was so intense and it was expanding around her. ‘It’s stuck right at the end.’
Jane felt James move forward. She grabbed his arm pulling him back. ‘You can’t do anything, just send her your love.’ She gripped his hand.
Lola looked towards them and smiled. She seemed to sense what they were doing. She turned back to the master crystal and began to sing. The tone was soothing and sweeter than any bird song; its sound stronger than storm force winds. It created a vibration in the master crystal that caused the light to get even brighter. Its radiance surrounded Lola totally now and Jane could hardly see her body through the glow. Still Lola sang, a lovely sound Jane would remember and feel forever.
‘We are ready,’ Lola said and continued singing.
Jane heard Mark start to chant words she didn’t understand. He raised his hands to the sky, feeling with his fingers. Jane saw what was like a heat wave resting on his fingertips. When he moved his hands higher to cup it, there were sparks of energy, like twinkling stars, forming in an invisible bowl between his hands. The sparks began to merge and Jane could see a spot of light in the centre of his hands. It started to grow until the light filled the whole space between his hands. He brought it down towards his chest. It was still growing and he opened his hands further to create a space a foot wide. The energy quickly filled it, so he moved his hands out even further.
Jane could see he was struggling to hold it, as it began to slip between his fingers. She glanced at Lola who was now almost obscured from view. The light around her was like looking at the centre of the sun and Jane had to shield her eyes. She could still hear Lola singing.
Then suddenly a glistening, transparent hand came out of the light and Mark placed the energy ball on to it. The instant Lola’s hand brought the ball of energy into the light there was a blinding flash.
Jane covered her eyes. Seconds later, she heard a whoosh sound and was lifted off her feet. She was flying above the Jeep and right across the mine, her journey ending as she hit something hard and fell to the floor. For a long time she lay struggling to find her breath, her body heaving and gasping for the air it needed. Underneath her she felt the ground tremble. She was helpless, her body locked in a struggle to get air.
The shaking ground bounced her body a few times, then stopped. Gradually her body calmed and she was able to breath properly. Gently she looked up. The force of what happened had sent her as far as the shacks, a good distance from the drill hole. James was laid about ten feet away from her to the right. He was still, but breathing. The Jeep was on its side next to him.
She quickly looked for Mark and Lola. The drill hole was glowing and the area around it was bright but slowly fading to normal light. Lola was nowhere to be seen; neither was Mark. With no regard to any injuries she may have suffered, Jane sat up. Her eyes scanned the area of the hole, nothing. She looked round the mine edges and saw a heap of what looked like clothes.
‘MARK!’ she screamed and, getting to her feet, she staggered over to where he lay on his side. She fell to her knees and gently turned him on to his back. There was no rise or fall to indicate breathing and putting her ear to his chest she could just hear a faint heart beat. Quickly she pushed back his head, held his mouth closed and blew air into his nose two, then three times. She stopped and looked at him for signs he was breathing on his own. ‘Please, please, Mark,’ she cried pulling his body towards her.
He suddenly gasped and heaved in a breath. Her tears fell on his face and he opened his eyes. ‘Lola?’ he asked. Jane shook her head. He closed his eyes for a second as if the news was too much to bear. They heard James before they saw him.
‘LOLA, LOLA!’ he yelled as he made his way up to the drill hole. ‘My Lola,’ he sobbed, falling to his knees by the hole.
Jane gripped Mark’s hand. She knew exactly how James was feeling and she couldn’t bear to hear his cries. Mark got up and helped Jane to her feet. Amazingly they were unhurt. They walked up to the drill hole to James who was mumbling and holding something to his chest.
Mark inspected the land and the Vogel. ‘It looks clear,’ he said relieved.
The ground began to shake around their feet and Jane leapt back. Mark grabbed James, pulling him further away from the hole. The ground seemed to split apart, like a earthquake and almost immediately move together again, forcing the crystals to collapse into the hole, sealing itself under a mound of earth.
James got to his feet and stared at them. He was smiling. Jane was shocked but also curious. ‘What is it?’
He pulled his hands away from his chest and opened them. Nestling in his palms was the remains of the master crystal, which had morphed into the shape of a heart. It was radiating a beautiful rainbow of light.
‘Lola said I have her heart,’ James said. ‘She is here, feel it.’
Jane tentatively touched the heart with her fingers. It was amazing; she could feel Lola’s energy. Her gentleness and love were radiating out of the crystal as if she was there in person. ‘She is here, that’s wonderful,’ Jane beamed.
Mark picked up a stone from the ground and said, ‘She’s here too.’
Jane took the stone and the feelings were still there though not as strong. ‘Have we really done it?’
Mark put his arm around her. ‘I want to do some test drills and check out James’s mine, but I think we did.’ He looked over her shoulder and left her to pick up something from the ground. It was his crystal pyramid.
‘I saw you with that, what did it do?’
Mark smiled. ‘I had a message from my guide last night in a dream. He told me to use it, but I don’t know what it did.’ He popped it into his pocket.
James turned to them and, pointing to the Jeep, he said, ‘I think I’ll need a hand with pushing our transport back on its wheels.’
‘How do you know it’ll work?’ Jane asked.
‘Lola told me,’ he said, kissing the crystal.
Any other time Jane would have said he was mad, but after this how could she not believe totally.
As they walked back to the Jeep, James said to Mark, ‘We need to get you and Jane away from here. Where do you think you’ll go?’
Mark looked at Jane and gave her a hug. ‘I think it’s time to stop running, don’t you?’
Jane couldn’t believe she was hearing this. Something in Mark had changed, in fact, she thought, we have all been changed in some way. ‘What are you going to do?’ she asked cautiously.
‘Ferrand knows about the master crystal, he’ll not stop until he gets it. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt,’ he paused then said, ‘I’m going to find my parents and my children. I need to make sure they’re safe. Then I’m going to confront Ferrand.’
‘But… but you can’t. Once he has this power, he’ll kill you.’ Jane could feel the fear returning.
Mark kissed her gently on the forehead. ‘It’s time to put an end to this.’
‘Well I don’t know about you two, but I’ve had enough adventure to last me a lifetime.’ James smiled, ‘But I know just the man to help you.’