Cursed Fire: The Dark Sky Chronicles - Book One Read online

  Cursed Fire

  The Dark Sky Chronicles

  Book One

  by

  Daisy Dyson

  Also in this Series

  Cursed Fire - The Dark Sky Chronicles - Book One

  Vengeful Earth - The Dark Sky Chronicles - Book Two

  Toxic Storm - The Dark Sky Chronicles - Book Three

  Scorpion Rising - The Dark Sky Chronicles - Book Four

  Copyright

  © Daisy Dyson 2021

  **

  Daisy Dyson asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this ebook on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system in any form or by any means without the express written permission of Daisy Dyson.

  This novel is a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  Previously published under the title Star Jumpers: The Lion Roars

  Dedication

  To Ben, for the inspiration

  Contents

  Also in this Series

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty One

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Chapter One

  The Zip Wire Platform at Dark Sky Camp

  ‘Jump!’

  At the very last second, Rufus saw Theo’s expression morph from excitement to panic, as though it had only just dawned on him that he was about to take a flying leap into the unknown – from thirty feet above the ground.

  But it was too late now.

  ‘And make sure you wait for the other three to arrive before moving on. Okay?’

  A twinge of guilt invaded Rufus’ chest when he realised that all Theo could do was nod his confirmation, his eyes wide with anxiety as he inhaled a deep breath, clenched his fists, and finally tipped his toes over the edge of the tree-top platform. Rufus remained motionless, watching as the momentum of Theo’s weight swept him down the zip wire and towards the dense forest in the distance, the pace of his horizontal flight increasing until he disappeared from view.

  The die had been cast now, and there was no going back. Ignoring the adrenalin coursing through his veins, Rufus dragged his gaze away from the dark horizon, squared his shoulders, and forced himself to concentrate on what still had to be done.

  ‘Okay, Oscar. Ready?’

  ‘Sure am. This is going to be an awesome ride!’

  Rufus attached the metal clip to Oscar’s safety belt, relieved that at least one of the specially selected foursome had ridden a zip wire before, although he knew that the occasional weekend of orienteering and wild camping in the local countryside would count for nothing at his journey’s end.

  ‘Jump!’

  ‘Whoah!’

  Unlike Theo, Oscar leapt from the platform, his long curls flying high into his slipstream, swinging his sturdy hiker’s boots to increase his speed. The whirr of the zip wire hummed through the air as he travelled through nature’s emerald tunnel, his cries of delight growing ever fainter until he, too, was swallowed up by the leafy canopy.

  Next onto the platform came Aimie. Rufus knew his father disagreed with him over her inclusion in the group, but he had stood his ground, arguing vociferously that whilst physical fitness on such a perilous quest was essential, it shouldn’t be the only consideration. He had been amazed, and then concerned, that Max had yielded so swiftly to his persuasion, his concern increasing to alarm when he realised that his father’s powers of advocacy – along with other more basic abilities – were crumbling before his eyes. However, now was not the time to analyse what that meant.

  ‘Okay, Aimie?’

  Rufus grimaced inwardly when he saw the trepidation written in Aimie’s electric-blue eyes, her habitually cheerful expression missing-in-action, her face pale, her jaw-line tight as she struggled to keep her emotions in check.

  ‘Actually, Rufus, I’m not sure about doing this activity. I mean, okay, a long weekend at Dark Sky Camp, sleeping under canvas in the Northumbrian wilderness and gazing up at the stars is one thing, but leaping off into the creepy, dark forest from a wooden shelf ten metres high is definitely not what I signed up for! Just climbing up that rickety rope ladder is enough of a thrill for me, thanks.’

  ‘Aimie, I—’

  ‘Look, I’m really sorry. I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to do it. This outward-bounds stuff is totally not my thing! Actually, I’d really like to go home now, if that’s okay with Max. In fact, I never agreed to be part of this ‘Dark Sky’ stuff, anyway. If my parents had any idea that I’d be taking part in dangerous extreme sports they would never have agreed to me coming here in the first place. And my mum is going to be absolutely horrified when I tell her about the bathroom facilities!’

  Aimie scrunched up her short, ski-slope nose in disgust at the composting toilets the attendees of the Dark Sky Camp were obliged to use.

  ‘And there’s nowhere to plug in my hair straighteners.’

  Rufus smiled, but without humour. ‘Your family are fully aware of the camp’s basic facilities and of the details of this mission, Aimie.’

  ‘Mission? What mission? What are you talking about?’

  ‘You’re an essential part of this adventure, Aimie, I want you to remember that. You must gather your courage and focus all your energy on its successful outcome. I’m relying on you, as my choice, to complete the assignment.’ Rufus forced himself to soften his voice when he saw the fear scrawled across Aimie’s face. ‘Come on, you’re here now. Why not give the zip wire a go? No! Stop! Don’t look down!’

  ‘Oh my God!’

  All the remaining colour seeped from Aimie’s cheeks as she peered over the lip of the creaky, timber precipice and down to the forest floor below. A blade of remorse sliced through Rufus’s gut; maybe his father had been justified in his reluctance to include Aimie, after all. Fortunately, before he could explore the question any further, the fourth member of the group clambered onto the platform.

  ‘Look, here’s Zara. She’ll be right behind you, Aimie.’

  ‘I’m still not—’

  ‘And please, don’t forget your briefing. When you arrive at your destination, you must wait with Theo and Oscar until Zara arrives. Understood?’

  ‘Yes, but—’

  ‘Bonnum Cursum!’

  Rufus quickly snapped the safety clip onto Aimie’s body harness, then tried to offer her a smile of encouragement. However, his lips twitched nervously, revealing his own mounting apprehension, which Aimie saw immediately.

  ‘Rufus, what’s going on?’


  ‘Jump!’

  ‘Nooo!’

  Seconds later, Aimie swept from the tree-top platform, her screams of objection growing progressively softer as she whipped through the sultry mid-summer air, thirty feet above the ground, sending red squirrels and blackbirds scuttling from her path, her golden hair flying behind her in the breeze. Rufus exhaled a long, ragged sigh, then turned to the final member of the group.

  ‘Zara? Are you ready?’

  ‘I am.’

  Unlike Aimie, Zara showed no inkling of being intimidated by a flight through the woodlands on a late July afternoon. Dressed in a pair of sensible black leggings, matching tee-shirt, and purple Dr Martens with yellow laces, she was clearly ready – sartorially, at least – for whatever the next new few hours had in store.

  ‘Rufus, can I ask you something?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘I know this activity has been organised by Max as an optional extra, but why have only four members of our Dark Sky Camp been selected to participate? I saw the list in the activities hut; lots of people signed up for it.’

  ‘Want to bail out?’

  ‘No way!’

  Rufus smiled as Zara raised her chin and straightened her shoulder blades, her gold-flecked eyes flashing with unwavering confidence – and maybe a soupçon of arrogance after witnessing Aimie’s earlier lack of bravado.

  ‘Here, I want you to take this.’

  He stooped down to retrieve a bulging nylon rucksack, holding the padded straps apart to allow Zara to slot her muscular arms through and settle the bag comfortably on her back.

  ‘What’s this for?’ Zara raised her perfectly sculpted eyebrows in surprise.

  ‘It contains all the essential items you’ll need when you arrive at your destination.’

  ‘I don’t need provisions, Rufus. Maybe you should have offered this to Aimie. Does it contain a jar of smelling salts?’ She giggled, sweeping her corkscrew curls, the colour of burnished copper, over her head in a practiced gesture.

  Rufus met Zara’s smirk, waiting until the cauldron of emotions churning through his veins calmed. So much rested on this mission. His future – no, the future of the whole world, this world and his own – rested on the shoulders of this seventeen-year-old girl standing in front of his, her hand on her hip, cute dimples bracketing her lips. Unfortunately, the confident jut of her chin, and the gleam of challenge in her eyes, were not sufficient evidence of her abilities to allay Rufus’ fears.

  There was no doubt about it; the expedition his father was expecting Zara, and her three companions, to undertake would be treacherous, fraught with danger and unpredictable hazards, and its successful completion would demand every ounce of their strength and their wits. Rufus knew he had to choose his next few words with an equal amount of skill – for this young woman with the fiery personality had been selected by Max to lead the mission. Only Zara could accomplish this perilous quest.

  ‘Zara, listen to me. This is no ordinary, outward-bounds orienteering exercise. Once you tilt your weight from this platform, your life will never return to what you once considered normality. I have no time to explain the details, but know this; my father, Maximus, whom you know as Max, the wise and shrewd Principal Leader of the Dark Sky Camp, has entrusted you and your friends with a mission which is of paramount importance. Should you fail, both of our worlds will face annihilation.’

  ‘What?’ A first flick of fear shot across Zara’s face and her previous display of self-confidence waned. ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Once you breach the portwall, you must protect the contents of this rucksack with your life. It contains a detailed map of the Empire of Hadrixia, and of the journey you must undertake to the Forest of Cortia. More importantly, however, it contains the essential means for your safe return.’

  ‘Rufus, I—’

  ‘Zara, please listen, I can’t emphasis this enough. The expedition must be undertaken by all four of you; Theo, Oscar, Aimie and yourself. Whilst you have been designated the team’s leader, do not, under any circumstances, be tempted to separate. You must share the map and the details of this quest with no one other than your three companions – each one of whom, you can be assured, has been meticulously selected for their personal attributes.’

  Rufus paused before delivering his final warning.

  ‘It is imperative you do not deviate from the route my father has ordained you must travel. If you choose – or are forced – to take an alternate route, your quest will be over. Do you understand this?’

  Rufus heard the quiver in his voice, but there was nothing he could do about it as he held Zara’s gaze until she nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on his.

  ‘Good. Two items must be located and returned to my father at Camp HQ before two turns of the Earth have been completed. Your path to retrieve the Stone of Exerith will be arduous, the risks you encounter, high and harsh. If you fail in your search, or discover you are unable to transmorph back through the portwall before the final moments of the month of July are upon you, you and your friends will be trapped in Hadrixia. Now, we have lingered beyond our allowance. Go!’

  ‘Rufus, I don’t—’

  ‘Once through the portwall you must gather your friends, find refuge, and hide. Do you understand? I cannot guarantee your arrival will go unnoticed, for Xophicus’s armies and informers are pervasive and strong.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Now jump!’

  Without waiting for the onslaught of inevitable questions forming on her lips, Rufus shoved Zara from the platform, following her progress along the wire, her amber curls ballooning like a wild Medusa before she disappeared from sight, swallowed by the dense foliage of the ancient oaks. He sighed and turned away, flicking the loose strands of his flaxen hair behind his ears to reveal their elongated tips, his heart hammering a concerto of terror against his ribcage.

  The chances of survival for these four teenagers were minimal, if not zero.

  Chapter Two

  The City of Hadrixia

  Zara sped through the arched umbrella of trees, the zip wire humming as she progressed down its sinuous length. Thoughts summersaulted through her mind, bouncing from one crazy revelation made by Rufus to the next, until a six-metre-high limestone wall loomed into view and she realised she was headed straight for it.

  She kicked out, considered then rejected the idea of grasping the wire above her head to slow her trajectory. She had no time to do anything other than curl her knees tightly into her chest, screw her eyes shut, and brace herself for the inevitable impact.

  But no impact came.

  In its place, Zara experienced the most bizarre of sensations. She felt as though she had been hurled through the tumble of a waterfall or a car wash but, glancing down at her jean-clad legs, she wasn’t soaked to the skin as expected. Instead, ripples of warmth cascaded through her veins and her nerve endings fizzed and tingled, but the not unpleasant phenomenon was fleeting. She shot through the breach in the wall at high speed, landing with a thud on her backpack, her arms and legs sprawled wide, spinning like an upside-down tortoise.

  Twilight? How could that be? It had been a warm, sunny afternoon when she’d leapt from the elevated ledge high in the trees of the Northumbrian Forest.

  Zara pushed herself to a sitting position, the cobbled stones digging painfully into her backside, and squinted around at her surroundings. She tried to get her bearings whilst she waited for her heartrate to calm and her eyes to adjust to the gloom. She swung her gaze over to her right where Theo was dragging Aimie to her feet, registering with a sharp jolt to her abdomen that all four of their silhouettes seemed to be emitting a faint amber glow.

  ‘Where are we? Zara?’ Aimie’s bottom lip trembled, her pale eyes stretched wide with terror. ‘What’s going on? Is this the end of the ride? Where is everyone?’

  ‘I don’t—’

  Before Zara had chance to reply, a heavily scarred door in the middle of a straggling row of ancient houses to her rig
ht cracked open and she saw a pair of piercing blue eyes survey the scene, taking in the four new arrivals, then calling to them in an urgent whisper.

  ‘Over here! Quick!’

  Zara exchanged glances with the other three, but none of them made any effort to move towards the voice despite its obvious urgency. She squinted through the gloom at the girl, only a couple of years older than she was, sporting a hessian tunic drawn in at her waist by a wide leather belt and secured with a miniature silver shield embossed with a coat of arms, who was now gesturing frantically at them, her striking features creased with anxiety.

  ‘What is this place?’ muttered Oscar, his eyes almost as wide as Aimie’s.

  ‘I don’t know, but I think we should get back to camp,’ said Theo, taking several strides away from the group before pausing to look back over his shoulder. ‘Are you coming or what?’

  ‘No, we have to stay, Rufus said we—’

  ‘Please! You must come now!’

  The girl had taken a step onto the street, and for the first time Zara was able to see her shoulder-length blonde hair, teased into spikes across the crown of her head, and the elongated earlobes she recognised immediately. With her heart hammering against her ribcage, she grabbed her rucksack, hooked her arm through Aimie’s, and sprinted towards the opened door, grateful that Theo and Oscar had decided to follow her lead.

  Seconds after they’d scuttled into the house, breathless and bewildered, the girl slammed the heavy iron bolts across the back of the door, and heaved a sigh of obvious relief. Without saying a word, she then led them down a narrow corridor to a large fire-lit room, its walls and ceiling clad in dark mahogany panels which served only to add to the shadowy darkness. To Zara’s surprise, apart from a floor-to-ceiling oil-painted portrait, the room was empty.

  ‘What’s going on?’ demanded Theo, switching his gaze from the girl to Zara and back again. ‘Who are you? And where are we exactly? Why is it so dark here? What was that wall we’ve just travelled through?’