The Key by Marianne Curley Page A

whacks him hard. He rubs his arm.
    â€˜I didn’t realise they would all be men,’ she mutters. ‘I just don’t want you overprotecting me, that’s all.’ She glances at me. ‘I get enough of that from my brother, thank you very much.’
    Arkarian folds Isabel into his arms, and holds her there as he asks Rochelle to go and inform Mr Carter,Jimmy, and Ethan’s father Shaun that there will be a meeting here first thing in the morning, when everyone has returned from their missions. ‘And don’t use a phone. Their signals are too easy to overhear.’
    Rochelle leaves and Arkarian turns to Ethan and me. ‘You two had better go home and get some rest. I’ll meet you in the Citadel before you leap, and give you final instructions. And remember, Matt, you will be transported through your sleep. So just relax and go to bed as usual. When you arrive at the Citadel your soul and your eyes will be housed in bodies that resemble your own until you are given secret identities. Do you understand?’
    I nod. ‘Ethan has explained the details of transportation to me in our training sessions. Except, that room we were in today looked different to how Ethan described the rooms of the Citadel.’
    â€˜That’s because we were in a different part of the Citadel today. The Citadel is split into two distinct sections. Transportation takes place in the labyrinth, where the rooms and staircases are always changing to suit the requirements of the travellers and to keep their identities intact. Where we were today serves a thousand other purposes, but mostly it houses the living and working quarters. The labyrinth wouldn’t work without the machinery and the co-ordinating that originates from this other half. Anything else?’
    I can’t think of anything off-hand.
    â€˜Good, now go. It’s nearly evening already out there. Your mother will be wondering what’s keeping you so long.’
    Ethan tugs on my arm and I make to leave, but notice Isabel is still glued within Arkarian’s embrace. ‘Are you coming?’ I ask her.
    She lifts her head to Arkarian and they hold eye contact for a moment, then Arkarian says, ‘Soon. You two go ahead.’
    Ethan nudges me again. I follow him at a slower pace, giving my sister a lingering look on the way out. I wish I could get used to seeing those two together.
    Outside, the evening air is chilly and I shrug deeper into my jacket.
    Ethan says, ‘You just can’t stop worrying, can you?’
    â€˜Huh?’
    â€˜About Isabel.’
    â€˜I promised our dad I would look after her. That’s all I’m trying to do.’
    â€˜Isabel’s my best friend. Trust me, I wouldn’t walk away from her if I thought she was in any harm.’ He thumps my shoulder. ‘Now come on. You have to concentrate on tonight’s mission. You don’t want to blow it, do you?’
    â€˜Of course not!’
    Ethan starts to explain about the Citadel. It’s stuff he’s gone over before, but since my earlier question to Arkarian, he must think it needs repeating. ‘It’s where we learn the language, accents and other details we need to know so that we don’t stick out …’
    Listening carefully, I start walking with him down the mountain. We don’t get far when a voice calls out from behind. ‘Hey, wait up!’
    It’s Isabel. I can’t help but grin when I see her. She reads my look of intense relief. ‘You jerk. When are you going to realise I don’t need looking after any more? We just wanted a few minutes alone. There’s nothing wrong with that!’
    Unable to keep doubt from my voice, I bite backwords and simply mutter, ‘Hmm.’
    With a few more instructions, Ethan leaves us at my front door. All I can think is that I want to take a quick shower and jump straight into bed. But Mum is waiting on the other side of the