CHAPTER 28: THE KEY

*Seven.*

The number echoed in Suzanne’s mind.

All her life, the number seven had played a significant role in her upbringing. Grandmother had told her that the number seven was the most powerful magical number, based on centuries of mythology, science, and mathematics, and therefore had a very important role in the world of clairvoyants.

*How ironic, God created the world in 7 days, and in 7 days the end will come.*

She looked around the room and at the faces of all who were with her. Thomas looked like he was about to cry, the twins had whipped out their phones to call their family members, Hans, as usual, was calm, she could not tell what he was thinking about and Tom, he was looking at her, but with so much love and trust that it broke her heart.

*They’re all going to die because of me*.

She suddenly developed a distaste for that particular number. She looked at her palm, the black mark was starting to spread up her wrist, from the corner of her eye, she caught Marcelino watching her so she quickly pulled her sleeves down to cover up the mark.

“Damnit! Surely we can pull something off!” she rallied.

Hans stood up and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, “Look, I know you’re all worried. And rightly so. But there’s 7 of us here, and 7 is a lucky number. We can do this, I have a plan.”

*Seven*.

The number echoed in Suzanne’s mind again.

How odd…perhaps the number seven wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

Hans walked over to one of the bookshelves and motioned for them all to follow, and as they got up, Hans withdrew a dark blue book causing the bookshelf to swing open to reveal a hidden room.

“Holy cow!” Thomas gasped as he stepped in behind Hans.

In the room were vials upon vials of different coloured liquids, some glowing, some not. In a corner was a shelf with stacks of different shaped talismans too. The whole place felt like a treasure trove for witches and warlocks to Tom. He walked over to a mini cauldron in the middle of the room, it had white shimmery powder in it. They were hypnotizingly mesmerizing.

“I wouldn’t touch that if I were you,” Hans cautioned as he walked past Tom making Tom frown and feeling very much like a country mouse, “I was just looking.”

The twins whistled as they browsed through the vials, flicking gently at some of them with their fingers. Only Marcelino remained with a stoic expression.

“The best defence is a good offence. We have 7 days to prepare, we will draw them to us,” Hans said, taking out one of the vials. He shook it and a dull red glow emitted from it.

“Wait, I thought we were going to weather out the storm?” Thomas asked, his nervousness building up again. The place was cold but he was perspiring.

Hans threw the vial in Tom’s direction and he caught it with his good hand. Hans turned away from the shelf of vials and looked at Thomas, his tone deadly, “You know there’s no running away from the mist, it’s after us all. It’s only a matter of time before they come for you.”

Thomas shook his head in denial, “But…but we’re no match for them. Just look at the twins! They’re barely out of puberty!”

At this, the twins rolled their eyes. They were the youngest in the room, having just turned 15  a few months ago.

“They’re not even old enough to vote yet! Even enlistments for the army requires that you be of 18 years and above!” Thomas babbled on, “I’m probably the weakest link. You all know I can barely form a barrier without falling ill for a week or two. And Marcelino here…”

Marcelino glared at him. Thomas held both hands up, “Okay, okay, I won’t talk about you. Then take a look at Suzanne…”

Thomas pointed to Suzanne who was rubbing at her palm,” She looks like she could drop dead any minute, no offence meant Suzanne, but you look like shit right now.”

Suzanne gave a wry smile and said sarcastically,” Best compliment ever Thomas.”

“And let’s not even begin to talk about Ken doll here,” Thomas nudged at Thomas who was standing next to him, “This guy isn’t even one of us! The only one with real power is you, Hans, you have...”

Hans cut him off before Thomas could finish his sentence,” Actually, the one who holds the key to victory is Suzanne. We have an ace in our cards and she’s it.”

“Excuse me?” Thomas was confused and rightly so. Hans had told them nothing about the mark on Suzanne’s hand. And none of them had noticed it, save for Marcelino who now pointed at the printed copy of the inscription in Hans’ hand.

Hans held it up for all to see, “You see this sketch down here?” He pointed to the blackened sketch at the bottom of the paper, “This represents the key to closing the portal to the Abyss. The scripture says and I quote;

*'When the day is done, darkness will come*,

*And creatures of the night will rise*,     

*They bring with them the plague of the mist  * 

*Death becomes their shadows*

*But there is no darkness so dense, so menacing*                                                                                                                        

*Or so great that it cannot be overcome by light*                                                                                                                     

*For from the ashes of the mist*                                                                                                                                                     

*A glimmer of hope will come*               

*Look for the key *    

*In the hands of light*              

*The reign of darkness will end*

*and you shall all be free*.' ”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

“And?” Thomas asked.

“That’s it,” Hans said simply, quickly rolling up the paper. Marcelino frowned, he had noticed something odd on the paper before Hans rolled it up.

“But it doesn’t sound complete,” Thomas was doubtful. Hans waved the paper in front of his face, “Thomas, trust me. And trust Suzanne. Show them your hand, Suzanne.”

Suzanne’s head jerked up at the sound of her name, Hans gave her a reassuring smile as he stepped over to where she stood and gently rolled up her sleeve. Then he held her hand out for all to see.

“Suzanne is our key.”

What Hans did not tell them though was that he had omitted a sentence from the inscription. 

Translated, the sentence would have read;

'*In the hands of the dark*

*The end will come*.'