Connor Clover and the Lost Children (Book 1) Read online

  ‘Before we go, I was wondering if I could see my sister, Jenny,’ Connor asked, looking hopeful.

  Deana almost choked. ‘Your sister Jenny? Jenny who?’

  K was laughing and Hank was squeaking loudly.

  ‘Who’s Jenny?’ said Hank, glancing at Deana and making a face.

  ‘He asked the consulting mirror who his sister was,’ Tookar explained, smirking gently. ‘Tell them what you saw, Connor.’

  ‘It showed me a room, where Deana, K, Marion and Jenny were. As soon as I saw Jenny’s blonde hair, I knew she was my sister. She looks like the photograph I have of her.’

  Deana was shaking her head, looking highly amused. ‘And the mirror told you it was her?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Connor, but then frowned slightly. ‘Well, not exactly,’ he confessed, remembering how he’d specifically asked the mirror to focus on Jenny without using the word ‘sister’.

  Tookar placed his hand on his shoulder. ‘Ask the mirror again, Connor. Ask to see your sister’s face in the mirror.’

  Connor rolled up the sleeve of his jumper, revealing the small, watch sized mirror.

  ‘It’s beautiful,’ Deana gasped, glancing down and looking at it closely. Hank jumped on to Connor’s shoulder for a closer look, his little claws digging gently into his skin.

  ‘Ouch!’ said Connor, frowning at Hank. ‘Please show me the face of my sister.’ Connor proudly lifted up his wrist for everyone to see. Deana was standing so close to it, all he could see was the reflection of her face. ‘You’re standing too close,’ he said, moving backwards from her.

  Deana giggled nervously and glanced at K, who was looking highly amused.

  Her face was still looking up at him from his wrist. He tapped it several times.

  ‘Please show me the face of my sister,’ he repeated, but again Deana’s face smiled back at him. ‘It’s not working,’ said Connor feeling disappointed. ‘Do you think it’s broken?’

  Marion, who was standing furthest away from the group, stepped forward. ‘Someone put him out of his misery, please,’ she said.

  As the words died on her lips, he glanced at Deana and then towards the small image on the face of the consulting mirror. It was as if time itself had come to a standstill. Her face shape, her freckles, even her eyes were undoubtedly the same as the photographs he’d seen of her when she was younger. That was why the young girl in the picture looked familiar. But how could he have been so stupid as not to have made the connection until now? Her hair colour was different, but that was it really. Everything else looked the same.

  When he’d first met Deana, he’d felt incredibly relaxed in her company. He felt as if he’d known her all his life. And now as she stood before him, he realised why he’d felt that way. She was his sister.

  His body began tingling, filling with warmth. Her mouth was open as if to speak but no words needed to be said. An unspoken truth had been finally realised and brought to light. No present on earth could ever be better than discovering his sister was Deana. She had proven on more than one occasion that she was prepared to lay down her life for him. He thought she was just doing her job, protecting him. But it was more than that. She’d been there from the beginning to keep an eye on him, because she loved him.

  They stood watching one another; each occupied with their own thoughts. Connor looked at his sister. Her eyes had misted over with tears of happiness. Connor welcomed her arms sweeping round his body, holding him tighter than ever before.

  Kissing his head, Deana whispered, ‘You silly sausage. Fancy thinking Jenny was your sister. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll always be here for you… always.’

  Feeling safe and secure, Connor closed his eyes. If there was anything better in the world than having someone truly care for you, he was unaware of it.

  The room came alive with cheering. Connor, grinning broadly, finally had hopes of a better life and this time with his sister. They would be no more demands from his aunt and uncle, no more demeaning tasks. Connor quickly buried the dangers he’d encountered, only yesterday, in the back of his mind. All thoughts of Definastine were temporarily filed away. But as Deana cuddled him affectionately, it was harder than ever to ignore the niggling doubts that clawed away inside his body, constantly reminding him that dangerous times were far from over.

  End of Book 1