Page 14 of Black and White, Twice the Might (Cadenbury Town #8)

W e’re sitting at the Stone dinner table, eating dinner and laughing. That seems to be a theme here - have food and laugh.

When there’s a lull in the conversation, I look at Sly, who smiles at me and nods.

“Adhan, we’d like to formally put an offer in on the house,” Sly says.

“Really? We’re staying?” Enoch asks happily, looking at us.

“For real?” Xander queries, with what sounds like hope in his voice.

“For real,” I answer. We hadn’t told the boys our decision; we thought we would surprise them tonight.

Adhan smiles at us. “Excellent. We can sort everything out tomorrow.”

“The four of you will be very happy there,” Molly tells us.

Sly looks at Adhan. “Are you sure it’s okay with me being here? I’m a dark witch, not white or grey.”

Adhan nods. “I’m sure.”

“Oh,” Sal says. “You can both join our magical playtime. It’s usually me, Justice, and Callum against this lot and the town witches.”

Jude looks at him, trying not to smile. “Playtime?”

“What Sal meant was our totally serious, non-playtime defence against dark magic lessons. Totally a non-playing event,” Ernest says. “It’s taken very seriously.”

I hear a few snorts of laughter from around the table.

“Ernest is right. Our last lesson was stepping stones over a lava flow while battling a lava dragon. Because you never know what dark witches can do,” Temp tells them.

“And…” Sal said to Sly, “You can teach us protection from wind.”

Sly nods. “I can do that.”

“The town witches decided they wanted defence against dark magic lessons, because of the problems the dark witches were causing,” Sal tells us.

“Then there were issues with my biologicals, who were casting spells on injured townsfolk, so we protected the whole town, whether paranormal or not, with the protection rune. We should give it to you four as well,” Justice says.

“We’ve already used it,” I reply. “Molly told us about it when she gave us the protection necklaces.”

“I did indeed,” Molly cackles out.

“It was weird that you just happened to have four protection necklaces on you at the right time,” Xander said, looking at her.

“Xander, Molly’s like a thousand years old. She knows everything,” Alfred tells him, grinning.

“Cheeky pup,” Molly says, cackling again. “I’ve not reached a thousand yet. When I do, we can have a party.”

“And Ebby can supply the chocolates,” Alfred says happily.

I laugh. “I can do that.”

“Now then, witchlings. I have vegetables in sacks ready for tonight. They are by the front door. You can make a soup as you’re cackling around the cauldron tonight.

Bowls and bamboo sporks are in carrier bags next to them.

You’ll need to conjure the cauldron and maybe a table.

You can use magic for anything else,” Molly tells us.

“I know the townsfolk are looking forward to seeing us standing around a cauldron making soup and cackling,” Ernest tells everyone.

“You know what? I should stay and help Cass look after Sion,” Temp suddenly says.

“I looked in on them when I got home. Sion was awake, but still couldn’t lift his head,” Justice says.

“And I offered to take food up for them when we were finished,” Titus adds.

“I have Cassie’s food keeping hot in the oven. I wasn’t sure what to make Sion,” Emily tells them.

“Sion won’t want anything heavy, probably just toast and jam,” Justice says.

“I’m sure Ma had a cousin or something who used to get migraines.

They had to cut out a lot of things, like cheese, chocolate, coffee and oranges, but anything could set them off.

Strong smells, bright light, loud noise.

They suffered a lot with them and were laid up for ages at a time,” I tell them.

“They are nasty things. Some people think they are just bad headaches, but they are so much more, and there is no real cure for them, just things that can reduce the severity of them, and pain injections. I’m still waiting on Sion’s neurologist to get back to me,” Justice says.

“Do you know what caused Sion’s?’ I ask.

“I hadn’t been here long, and a line of Cartwright witches sent several spells to us here in Cadenbury.

One of them was at a meeting of some of the town witches.

It sounded like buzzing inside our heads.

Most witches fell, except for me, Titus, Molly and Sion.

Sion tried so hard to counteract the spell that something burst in his brain, something that magic can’t fix.

He was in a coma, and when he woke up, he found he’d lost some of his memories and now this,” Ernest explains.

“Could there be something I can do? Maybe I can counteract the dark magic,” Sly offers.

“Thank you for the offer, Dark One, but dark magic didn’t do this. That line of Cartwrights were descended from Constance Cartwright, young’un and my great, great, whatever. They were being manipulated by Tim Tanner, Tink’s brother, also descended from light witches.”

“So, there are more bad light witches out there?” Enoch asks, shifting closer to Sly, who wraps his arm around his shoulder. I take Xander’s hand.

“We stopped them, cheeky chops. Plus, you have the protection necklace and the rune, and if your brothers agree, you and Xander can join Nora in her magic lessons, so you’ll know how to protect yourselves if your brothers aren’t around,” Molly tells them.

“You should also ask Adhan to teach you his super scary stare. He’s teaching it to me, and that look can make people either cry or wet themselves, sometimes both,” Nora tells them, before looking at Adhan and grinning.

“I will teach you both if you want,” Adhan agrees. “We’ll all protect you.”

“Thank you. The boys will probably take you up on both offers,” I say, looking at Xander and Enoch, who both nod.

“That would be amazing, thank you,” Xander says.

“Good. Now then, witchlings, it’s time to go to the haunted Farm,” Molly says.