Free Darkmoor by Victoria Barry Page A

hear any words.
    Catherine snapped aggressively at the stranger as he made his way closer towards her.
    The angels turned to face the intruder, with a snap of their heads their fiery tongues lashed out. However, this intruder was determined. Ignoring their warnings, he kept firmly focused on Catherine.
    Looking up at him, a spellbound Catherine studied the fearless figure. Confusion cast over her face, as something deep within her battled against the evil which had hold of her.
    Leaning down, his soft warm hand stroked her cheek, “Get off me!” Catherine snarled, pushing his hand away. Her voice sounded deep and deadly, but the stranger didn’t give in.
    Their eyes met, Catherine’s face began to change back to its original form, then suddenly evil.
    “It’s me,” spoke the boy’s voice once more.
    Catherine’s face began to shift back.
    Keeping calm, the voice persisted, “It’s me, Matthew. I’ve come to save you!”
    Pulling her hands away from the angels, Catherine reached up to touch his face. Catherine’s face returned to its normal state, revealing a warm smile.
    “Come on,” Matthew calmly spoke, picking up Catherine’s weak body.
    The angels shrieked with anger as they plummeted. Matthew lifted Catherine’s lifeless body into his arms, and started to walk towards the banking. However, their moves were followed promptly by the angels, who swam like sharks in an attempt to block the exit.
    The angels gnashed their teeth aggressively, so much so that blood began to pour out of their scolding eyes. Lizard like tongues slapped furiously against the wooden bridge in temper, causing it to sway uncontrollably.
    Cackling like witches, they flew towards him. Before he had chance to react, they had surrounded him. Gripping Catherine’s lifeless body tight, Matthew closed his eyes.
    An almighty thunderous sound echoed throughout the land.
    “Amitto! Amitto!”
    “Darkmoor?” Matthew remarked out loud, clinging tightly onto Catherine.
    Immediately, the ghostly angels descended back into the mist. The atmosphere became calm as Matthew opened his eyes slowly, he realised, with some confusion, that standing over him, was Sam
    “I thought you were-” Matthew began before Sam interrupted him.
    “Never mind all of that, they won’t stay down there forever, we need to move fast!”
    Matthew didn’t need ordering twice and quickly he ran straight for the river bank, carrying Catherine to safety in his arms.
    Finally free from the ghostly angels, Matthew slowly placed Catherine’s limb body onto the muddy floor. Realising that Sam hadn’t followed him, Matthew looked back across the bridge.
    Sam was still there. The ghostly angels had remerged and were hovering over her.
    Their faces had reformed back to their delicate angelic state, and Matthew watched intriguingly as the angels seemed to respond to Sam.
    Just then, Sam lifted her hands up into the air, and once more called out,
    “ Amitto !” Upon hearing her words, the angels gracefully descended back into the river and, instantly, the white mist became still and silent once again.
    Puzzled by Sam’s authority over the angels, he looked down towards Catherine as she approached.
    “She’ll be fine,” Sam said flippantly.
    “Yeah I hope so, Sam,” Matthew smiled, then looking up at Sam he asked, “What did you just do?”
    “Just do?” Sam answered sounding a little confused.
    “With the angels, you made them go back into the river.”
    Sam darted her eyes back across the now calm river, “Oh you know...” she stopped and paused, before continuing, “You just have to speak like Darkmoor and then they obey.”
    The fallen silence was broken by a murmuring Catherine. Her eyes flickering open then shut. Rubbing her hands across her forehead, she asked “What happened? My head is killing!”
    “You passed out, again!” Matthew said sarcastically, holding out his hand to help her up.
    “Passed out, what do you mean?” puzzled Catherine. “But