The Turnkey Read online

  Viktor Brun approached the footbridge and laughed a cruel laugh.

  “So, here she is – the girl who would protect Churchill. Protect all of Britain! How sad that she’s failed just like her father before her. You know, I couldn’t believe my luck when I did some research into who this strange little Turnkey on top of St Paul’s was and found the name was one I knew well.”

  Flossie reached out and grabbed onto the iron railing. So, he’d known who she was all that time.

  “Come here, my Liebchen, my darling.” With his free arm, Viktor Brun beckoned Elke even closer, his other arm holding the skull of the twilight tightly.

  Elke leaned into him, flicking her blonde plaits to the side. He clasped her to him and an audible gasp came from the living officers present. With his touch and the contact with the twilight skull, they could see Elke even more clearly than before. It was almost as if they were both alive again.

  Viktor Brun looked down at Elke fondly. “All this time chastising me. I knew you would see reason in the end.”

  Finally, Flossie understood.

  Darling. Chastising.

  The last piece of the puzzle fell into place.

  “You’re his daughter,” Flossie blurted out. That was why Elke was able to speak English. She’d mentioned her father had been a Rhodes Scholar. Flossie hadn’t known that Viktor Brun was one too, only that he’d gone to Oxford with her own father. Other things also made sense – how Elke had been able to exit the Invalid Cemetery in the way that she had. How she had called out to Flossie. Why she said it was “impossible” that she return to rest.

  It was impossible because her soul was trapped inside the crystal skull.

  Which meant what she had told Flossie before was true – she could move objects in the living world. Because part of her soul remained there.

  “You’re the other person inside the skull,” Flossie continued. Elke was the younger person. It wasn’t an ancient Mayan soul at all, but his daughter. Oh, how right her father had been, pointing her in the direction of Viktor Brun’s family. Why hadn’t she listened to him more carefully?

  “I thought I’d finished with your father on the North Sea,” Viktor Brun sneered at Flossie. “Then his beloved Britain took my daughter with their bombs, crushing her chest. A slow, horrible death. However, we were lucky in some ways. A slower death gave us time. Only a month before, one of our archaeologists had located a crystal skull and brought it back to the Fatherland. When we knew Elke was unlikely to live, our spiritualist leader informed us he believed he could capture Elke’s soul within the skull by performing an ancient ritual at death. When he thought he had accomplished this, he then did the same for me when I suffered my fate. It was at that time he came up with yet another brilliant idea – to bury the skull with me and then retrieve it in the hope that we might forge a connection between the worlds of the living and dead.”

  So it was as Violet had guessed. They’d buried the skull with Viktor Brun and then dug it up again.

  Viktor Brun saw Flossie’s expression. “You feel ill at ease with my decision? This is nothing compared to what is coming. Your country took my daughter from me – now it’s my turn for revenge. And what a lovely place your little cemetery will make for soldiers’ barracks. How your father would have hated that – enemy barracks built on top of his daughters’ and granddaughter’s graves! There is nothing you can do about it. Don’t you see it’s pointless your coming here? You can’t stop us now. You can’t touch the crystal skull in the world of the living. It’s beyond you. Ah, it will be pleasing to see those barracks built. And my daughter will be able to watch the spectacle with me. Together forever.” He grinned at Flossie wolfishly. “Don’t you wish your father had had access to such artefacts as our crystal skull?”

  At any other time Flossie would probably have taken his bait, but something nagged at her – something that still didn’t make sense.

  When Flossie had touched the twilight skull at the War Rooms, she had felt that fierce argument between the pair going on inside it. It was the sort of battle that was heartfelt and not to be backed down from. What she’d felt – it was Elke to the very core. Just like Flossie had known the story about Hana was true, she knew this was true as well.

  And that was when Elke began to edge away from her father.

  Chapter 29

  In which Flossie discovers Elke’s plan

  Elke whirled into action, snatching the twilight skull away from her father and departing from view with it. The light surrounding the officers and Viktor Brun dimmed with the twilight skull’s disappearance, though the crystal skull of the living world still shone strongly upon the altar.

  When Elke appeared again, it was in front of the altar and the two skulls shone like stars, making everyone present – both living and dead – wince. She placed the twilight skull upon the rock wall and then went to take the crystal skull.

  It wouldn’t move.

  She pushed and pulled at it, obviously desperate to get it over to the rock wall.

  And still it wouldn’t budge.

  Flossie couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

  Elke had brought her here to destroy the skull after all.

  What was wrong? Maybe she couldn’t move objects in the living world like she’d thought.

  Viktor Brun watched his daughter’s actions, his jaw set hard. “The crystal skull cannot be harmed by those inside it,” he told Elke, calm and controlled. “It preserves itself. Though I’m not sure why you would want to damage it. Do you have any idea what you’re doing?” His voice was stern.

  Elke’s expression became panicked. She looked to Flossie for a split second then picked up the twilight skull once more and clutched it to her.

  Then, in the blink of an eye, she was gone.

  Viktor Brun stood perfectly still, his fury simmering.

  It was one of the officers who spotted Elke first – alerting them all to her location by pointing at the next rock tower over, where a bright light now shone. There was Elke – standing by herself.

  Viktor Brun stood at the edge of the rock tower and faced his daughter.

  “Elke, we have business to attend to,” he yelled. “Return immediately.”

  Elke didn’t reply.

  “You must stop this now, Elke.” Viktor Brun had had enough. He stamped a foot in frustration.

  “No!” Elke called back, her voice unwavering. “No. I won’t stop. It’s you who has to stop. How can you do these things? Plan these things? Why did you get that horrible man to put me inside the skull?”

  The spiritualist, who had returned to Viktor Brun’s side, now inched away from him nervously.

  “I hate the skull. I hate being inside it,” Elke continued. “I hate knowing what I know. Knowing what you’re planning. What you’re thinking. When I was little, I thought you were good and kind, but now I can hear your every thought and I know you’re not. You’re not! I thought someone would come and stop you. It was only when Flossie arrived that I realised it had to be me. That I had to stand up to you.”

  “Elke …”

  “Enough!” Elke replied. “I won’t do what you say any more. I don’t trust you. How can you do those things to other people – to people like Hana – and then still love me? I don’t understand it. The things you’re planning, they’re evil. Pure evil.”

  “Elke! Get back here now!” her father screamed at her. “You will not disobey me.”

  “I won’t come there. I’ll only talk to you if you come here. I don’t want to talk in front of all those men.”

  Viktor Brun was gone in a flash.

  Flossie was too far away to see Elke’s face, but there was something in her stance – determined and fierce – and it was directed at Flossie. It was then that Flossie realised this was it.

  This was their second chance to destroy the skull. Elke was providing a distraction.

  But if Flossie destroyed the crystal skull, Elke would be gone forever. With no soul, she could
never be at rest. She would cease to exist on any plane.

  Flossie couldn’t do that to her.

  She couldn’t!

  The voice came then, clear in Flossie’s head.

  You have to, Flossie. Please. Do it for me. And Hana. For your interred. For all of us.

  From their opposite stone towers, the girls faced one another as Elke’s father appeared beside her.

  This was it. It was now or never.

  The only problem was, Flossie had no way of doing what Elke asked.

  Still, she had to try.

  Flossie closed her eyes and appeared near the altar and the crystal skull. She jumped as she realised there was a man standing next to her. A tall man dressed all in black.

  Hugo Howsham.

  “Give me your hand,” he spoke quickly, taking her keyed hand in his so that their two iron rings clinked together. His eyes met hers. “Now take it from me. Take my key. The skull must be destroyed once and for all.”

  “I don’t …” Flossie began, but then it happened all by itself. As if by magic, his key appeared on her ring and the words came, unbidden. “I am the Turnkey of Kensal Green; the dead remain at rest within.” At the same time, the strangest feeling came over her. A rush of names and faces and cemetery plots – not of those interred at Highgate, but at Kensal Green. And something else too. A new sort of strength. A powerful feeling.

  Amazed, Flossie’s eyes met Hugo Howsham’s. But there was no time to question him as the living officers began to approach them, yelling in German.

  Now. Now! Please, for all of us. Now! Elke’s voice came again.

  As the living officers closed in, Hugo Howsham stepped between them and Flossie moved into action. She ran over and reached for the skull, the awful turmoil of Elke and Viktor Brun’s conflicting souls screaming out at her as she made contact with its smooth surface.

  “Now!” Hugo Howsham yelled as Viktor Brun, sensing the impending danger, appeared back on the top of their rock tower.

  Focusing her new-found power, Flossie heaved the skull to the edge of the rock wall as Hugo Howsham wrestled with Viktor Brun.

  There was no time for hesitation. As the men clashed, she moved the skull into position. Then, just as she felt one of Viktor Brun’s hands grip her shoulder, she pushed the skull with every ounce of strength she had left and it slid off the rock wall.

  It fell towards the earth, tumbling, shining, shards of light twisting and twirling as it went.

  Down.

  Down.

  Down.

  “You stupid girl,” she heard Viktor Brun say, his voice dripping with hate.

  Hugo Howsham moved between them again and gave Viktor Brun a hard shove backwards, releasing Flossie. Brun landed at the feet of his officers as his daughter appeared before him.

  Thank you, Elke said silently, her eyes shining at Flossie. Thank you.

  The crystal skull connected with the hard, wintery ground.

  As it broke into a million dazzling pieces, there was a final burst of brilliant white light from both skulls. A light so blinding that Flossie had to cover her eyes with her hand and its two keys.

  When she lowered it once more, Elke was gone.

  And so was Viktor Brun.

  Chapter 30

  In which Flossie and Hugo Howsham make amends

  Flossie’s eyes were fixed upon the space Elke had been standing.

  She was gone.

  Elke was gone.

  Her soul had been destroyed along with the crystal skull. Destroyed along with her father’s soul. They were no more.

  Flossie was in awe of how brave Elke had been. There were grown men who cowered in the presence of Viktor Brun, but it was a young girl – his own daughter – who had stood up to him when no one else would.

  The scene now lit only by the light of the moon, there was stunned silence from all present on top of the stone tower – living and dead. That is, until, as one, the officers started shouting and arguing. Only the spiritualist remained quiet – slumped upon the stone floor, looking utterly defeated.

  Flossie, knowing they could no longer see her, ignored them all, intent on that spot Elke had stood in.

  She’d do as Elke had asked. She’d always remember her. And Hana. She’d never forget what Elke had done; how many lives she’d probably saved by sacrificing herself and her father who she obviously loved, despite his faults.

  Flossie felt something strange and wet on her face. At first she didn’t understand, but when she did, she gasped, bringing her fingers to her cheek.

  She was crying. She could cry.

  Shocked, she lifted up her keyed hand. The two keys had not only given her the power to hurl the crystal skull from the top of the rock formation, they’d also given her the ability to cry as the living did.

  “Oh!” her hand shot to her chest as she detected something – the very faintest of heartbeats.

  Hugo Howsham was leaning against the rock wall. “So,” he said. “Now you know.” He pushed himself up off the wall, appearing drained. “I’ll have my key back now, if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course,” Flossie said. She couldn’t help but notice how nervous he was. Almost as if he thought she might not give his key back. She’d never seen Hugo Howsham nervous before. He knew that he’d given her the opportunity to be more powerful than him. To hold all the cards.

  Flossie offered him her iron ring. He brought his own ring together with hers and another strange feeling swept over her – those same names and faces being stripped from her as if she was a tree being uprooted from solid ground. That power was taken from her too. There would be no more tears. No more fluttering heartbeat. She heard Hugo Howsham’s voice as if from afar.

  “I am the Turnkey of Kensal Green; the dead remain at rest within.”

  Flossie had to sit down – one key only jangling upon her iron ring once more. Hugo Howsham assisted her, catching her elbow and lowering her to the stone floor.

  “I am sorry,” he said gruffly. “It’s not the most pleasant feeling.” He kneeled beside her. “Now do you understand why the other Turnkeys must never know?”

  “I had a heartbeat and I could cry. If I could do all of that with two keys, what would happen if–”

  “These are questions that are best not asked,” Hugo Howsham cut her off. “This is why I didn’t come with you to this place. Why I’ve stood back and watched this whole time. I was hoping that you would find another way to destroy the skull. You almost did. But there was no other way, as it turns out. Now you know what we were never meant to know and what you must never tell the other Turnkeys. You must promise me you won’t tell them. I should never have known myself that the keys could be combined. I found out by mistake and …” He looked away. “Sometimes I am sorry that I did.”

  Flossie frowned. “What do you mean? How did you find out?”

  “No more questions!” Hugo Howsham bellowed. “The Magnificent Seven never meant us to have this information and we must act like we don’t. As if we never knew at all. Are we agreed?” He offered her a hand up.

  Flossie took it and rose. “I …” she started, not quite knowing what to say. She didn’t understand. Not at all. But, strangely enough, she trusted his judgement on this. She could see how if this knowledge fell into the wrong hands, terrible things might happen. “Yes,” she answered him. “I won’t tell them.”

  “Good.”

  She remembered something. The flash of black at Wewelsburg Castle. “You followed us, didn’t you? The first time I visited Wewelsburg Castle with Violet.”

  He dipped his head. “Perhaps.”

  “You did! I saw your coat.”

  “I wasn’t sure you were up to the task.”

  She remembered something else. “I didn’t want to tell you before, because … well, I was worried that you wouldn’t help me if you knew. Viktor Brun – he was the man who killed my father. Who sunk his ship. Who took his men.”

  Before he could reply, their attention m
oved to the German officers who seemed to have worked out that the rock formation was useless to them now. After some discussion, two of them dragged the spiritualist to his feet and they retreated, crossing the iron footbridge and leaving Flossie and Hugo Howsham on their own.

  Hugo Howsham cleared his throat, his attention moving to the moon above.

  “I’m afraid I’ve said and done some rather foolish things, Miss Birdwhistle.” He ground his walking stick into the stone.

  “Oh?” Flossie replied.

  His green eyes moved back to her then, clear and true and very much like his sister’s. “I was wrong about you and I’m sorry for it.”

  Flossie hadn’t expected such a direct apology.

  “That’s all right,” she said. “I understand.” And she did understand. Being a Turnkey was difficult. She rarely thought she was making the right decisions. If Hugo Howsham returned to rest and someone her age was given the task of caring for Kensal Green, she knew she’d be dubious about their abilities too.

  As a feeling of peace settled between them, Hugo Howsham took in their surroundings – the small rock altar, the rock towers, the lake in the distance. “What a strange life we have,” he said. “Or death, should I say?”

  Flossie couldn’t help but agree with him. “Death is a strange place, Mr Howsham,” she replied. “I thought it was supposed to be all pearly gates and fluffy white clouds and angels and it’s not. There’s a lot no one ever told me about in Sunday School, that’s for certain.”

  He laughed a short laugh at this and then bent down slightly to offer her his arm.

  “Home?” he said.

  “Home,” Flossie replied.

  Chapter 31

  In which Flossie returns to London

  Hugo Howsham returned to Kensal Green. Flossie stopped at both Tower Hamlets and Highgate to let Ada and Hazel know she was all right and that the skull had been destroyed. She didn’t say exactly how this had happened. Hazel knew, of course, though she led Ada to believe that it had been Elke who destroyed it.