Page 19 of Black and White, Twice the Might (Cadenbury Town #8)

A dhan invited us back to the manor and we’re all sat in the kitchen, drinks in front of us, and cake on the table. Even Molly, Elliot and Madam Cleo have joined us.

“What happened?” Kean asks us.

“I honestly don’t know,” Ernest says. “I mean, we were walking around and having fun when we seemed to get back to the first mirror.”

“But we didn’t see the entrance,” I carry on. “So, we started walking around it again, but the mirrors kept moving, sometimes trapping us, other times, they became a maze.”

“Then the mirrors started showing disturbing images of us,” Sly takes up the tale. “Then we heard what sounded like glass shattering, and the killer clown showed up.”

“Something sang a song saying we were trapped in a mirror. So, the witches sent their magic out, shattering everything around us, and we appeared outside the attraction,” Adhan says.

“When did you notice something was wrong?” Ernest asks.

“When we were changing locations, we couldn’t find any of you,” Titus says.

“The boys felt something was wrong and tried phoning Sly and Ebby. When they didn’t get an answer, we came to the fair to look for them,” John adds.

“We knew you were alive, but couldn’t find you,” Xander says. His hand is still resting on my arm.

“I remembered you saying you would start in the Hall of Mirrors, so we came to look for you,” Nix says.

“Picture the scene, my friends,” Jude starts, grinning Ernest’s way. “Our intrepid explorers had gone off to visit the fabled Hall of Mirrors.”

“Through oceans and rivers we travelled, across mountains and cliffs,” Kean says, picking up the ballad.

Elliot lets out a loud laugh. “A ballad, I love it.”

A ballad, really? Who tells what happens via ballads? Mind you, it does make the telling of events more interesting.

“Until we finally reach the gates of the Hall of Mirrors,” Ben adds.

“But alas, no entrance was to be found. So, we, the daring witchlings, being the sensible witchlings we are.”

There is more than one snort when Sal says this.

Sal ignores them and carries on. “Gently sent our magic out, looking for a way in, to rescue our trapped brethren.”

“But alas, no entrance was to be found,” Justice adds.

“I was surprised you didn’t just blast your way in,” Elliot says.

“We’ve learnt the hard way never to blast anything,” Titus tells him.

“Except we blasted our way out of the mirror,” Sly points out.

“Yeah, but we didn’t have a choice about that, really,” Ernest replies. “I was pretty sure nothing more would happen if we did.”

“None of us realised we were trapped in a mirror until that song was sung,” Adhan says.

“Even now, I have no idea how we ended up in the mirror,” Sly adds.

“I didn’t feel a change in the air or anything, and I didn’t touch anything,” Ernest tells them.

“Only because I stopped you, sweetheart,” Adhan says.

“What happened when you couldn’t get in?” he asks.

“We tried surrounding the attraction with our magic to undo the dark magic. It was cleverly woven round and took a good few hours to get it undone,” Justice tells us. “We still couldn’t physically get in, but sent what magic we could inside, looking for you all.”

“But we couldn’t find you,” Nix shakes his head. “We thought you might have been sent to another plane. I can’t believe we didn’t think about you being trapped in a mirror.”

“But then Enoch mentioned watching something where someone was pulled through one,” John says, smiling at him.

“So, we latched onto that thought, grabbed some of the town witches that were around and used a calling spell, hoping that would bring you back, and it did,” Molly says, cackling. “Looks like we timed the calling spell with you all, shattering the mirror.”

“Thank goodness,” Adhan says. “Mind you, the teenagers that were trapped with us loved it.”

“I think we’re all loving it,” Ben says.

“But we didn’t get killer clowns. We got a big fat nothing,” Temp grumps out.

“We still can’t tell which line the dark magic is from. It feels like it might be a combination of magics, but I don’t know why I think that,” Nix says.

“If that’s what you think, Nix, we’ll work on that assumption,” Titus says.

“I still don’t understand how the dark magic is getting through the wards,” Adhan says. He looks at Molly and Titus. “Do the wards need to be redone?”

Molly looks at Titus for a moment.

“It wouldn’t hurt,” Titus says.

“We can redo them, the Dark One can help us,” Molly says, looking at Sly.

“I’m happy to help, but will the town witches be okay with me helping?” Sly asks.

“They will. Honestly, as long as the town is safe, none of them will care,” Ernest tells him. “They didn’t mind when Sal helped.”

“We could all join together and protect the town. So, we’ll have white, grey and black.” Justice suggests.

“We can help as well if you want,” Cleo offers.

“We’ll accept all the help we can get and hopefully find out why the wards aren’t working,” Adhan says.

“We’ll get some sleep and look at the town protection tomorrow. We’re having a BBQ tomorrow. You’re welcome to join us, Elliot, Cleo,” Ernest tells them.

“I’ll be busy tomorrow, but Elliot can come,” Cleo says.

Elliot laughs. “I’ll be here. Message me when you’re ready.”

Adhan nods. “Will do, thanks Elliot.”

Elliot looks at Cleo for a moment, the smile falling off his face. Cleo nods, and Elliot looks back at Adhan.

“What is it?’ Adhan asks.

“I’m a true witch, not from an original line, but the true witch from our family line,” Elliot tells us.

“That’s how you could wipe the minds and the videos of anyone who saw Ben shifting,” Temp says.

“It is. As you know, I travel around the country all the time, but if I’m not around and you need my help, just phone me and I’ll get here as quickly as I can.”

“Thanks, Elliot,” Adhan says, smiling at him.

“And now that’s out of the way, we’ll be off,” Cleo says, standing up.

Elliot and Molly follow, and after a round of ‘good nights’, they leave.

“Ebby, Sly, do you guys want to stay here for the rest of the night?” Emily asks.

“Are you sure?” I ask.

“Completely. Enoch looks like he’s already asleep,” Adhan says.

It’s then that I notice my brother slumped against Sly, fast asleep.

“We will, thank you,” Sly says.

Adhan and Ernest show us to a couple of rooms, with Sly carrying Enoch up the stairs.

We deposit the boys into a lovely twin room, with Sly lying Enoch on the bed. I take his shoes off and magically change his clothes to his PJs, then cover him with a blanket.

Sly must have used magic on Xander, as he’s ready for bed.

“Sleep well, Xander,” I say.

He pulls me into a tight hug.

I drop a kiss on his head. “We’re fine, Xand.”

“I know,” he says, pulling back. “Sorry.”

“Hey now, none of that. I can’t imagine how scared the both of you were. I’m sorry we were gone for so long.”

“I know,” he says, yawning.

Sly touches his arm. “To bed with you, Xander.”

He nods and hugs Sly before pulling back. “Yeah, night,” he crawls into bed, and is asleep as soon as his head touches the pillow.

We leave their room and close the door behind us, walking into the one next door.

“Well, that was fun,” Sly says. “Not scaring the boys, obviously, but being trapped in the House of Mirrors. Given more time, playing with the clown could have been fun.”

I shake my head at him. “You’re a nutter, only you would want to go play with a killer clown.”

“What can I say? I’m weird.”

I burst out laughing and pull him into a kiss. “You are, but never change.”

“Not planning to, but let’s go to bed. We’re both exhausted.”

I nod. We strip out of our clothes and snuggle under the covers, quickly falling asleep.

The next evening sees us back at the haunted house.

It was decided that we would walk it, just us witches.

Because of what happened last night with the House of Mirrors, Sly offered to stay behind with the boys.

They assured me they would have fun without me.

I wasn’t sure how to take that. I bet they order pizza and binge on junk food.

Honestly, Sly gives in way too easily when it comes to the boys.

Okay, so not just with the boys, but with me as well.

I wonder sometimes how I got so lucky as to be with him.

I was touched to be included in the witchlings' adventure tonight.

“This will be fun,” Temp says, grinning madly, pulling me out of my thoughts, as we walk up the steps to the haunted house.

“It will be,” Nix agrees, opening the front door.

We all laugh as he jumps and curses as he’s hit by the bungee jumping spiders and smoke.

“At least you didn’t scream like a teenage girl, Temp did,” Titus says, with a laugh.

“I did not. I’ll have you know I let out a manly yelp,” he replies, in a snooty tone, nose in the air.

“No, you didn’t,” Ernest says, laughing.

As we’re laughing, we walk into the first room. I’m the last one in, but for some reason, the others aren’t there.

Apparently, Callum designed this room. It’s a lavish dining room with headless people sat down at the table, their heads on spinning plates in front of them, singing children’s nursery rhymes, and standing by the table conducting them is a mannequin wearing one of those weird plague masks and a long black cloak.

This room is seriously creepy. Callum has such a weird imagination.

But then he did think up the flying toxic killer puppies and the murdering dolls, so why not heads spinning on plates singing children’s rhymes?

I’m now wondering if we should be concerned about Callum, as everything he thinks up is slightly macabre.

Okay, so it might be macabre, but it is a good room.

“How amazing is this room?” I say loudly.

Weird, I don’t get an answer. “Guys,” I call again.

I don’t hear anything except the heads singing.

I leave the room, looking around, but I don’t encounter the others until I get to the dancing clothes room. Standing in the middle of the room is a mummy wrapped in clothes. Judging by the blood coming through those clothes, there must be spikes or something on the inside.

I throw my magic out, and it quickly shows me that Ernest is the mummy. I rush over and lay him down before starting to pull the clothes off him.

“Hold on, Ernest,” I say to him. Please, please hold on, I silently urge. I finally uncover his face, but I can just tell he’s dead, his vacant eyes staring at nothing. I send some magic into him, but that doesn’t help.

How can Ernest be dead, and why can’t I find the others?

I send my magic out to Sly. He’ll know what to do. Dark magic can bring people back from the dead. Maybe he can help Ernest.

“Ernest, if your spirit is still around, don’t go to the light. Stay close. Sly will be able to help you.” This will destroy Adhan when he finds out. I read once that true mates die not long after their mate. If that’s true, Adhan doesn’t have long left.

I want to look around for the others, but I honestly don’t want to leave Ernest alone. I again send my magic out looking for the others, but when it comes back, it tells me there is no one else here.

Why isn’t anyone else here? Maybe this is a trick by the dark witches. That must be it, right? Before I can finish that thought, I hear running footsteps and Sly rushes into the clothes room.

“Ebby, thank goodness.”

“Sly, you need to help Ernest,” I plead. “He’s dead.”

He shakes his head. “Ernest is safe at the manor. Sweetheart, you’re stuck in a nightmare. Take my hand and I’ll help you wake up.”

I don’t even hesitate. I jump up and take his hand. I open my eyes and see Sly leaning over me. We’re in the spare room at the manor.

“Sly,” I say happily, flinging my arms around him.

He pulls me up and hugs me. “You’re safe, sweetheart. It was just a nightmare.”

“How did you know I needed help? Did you get my message?” I ask, pulling back.

He shakes his head. “No. I’ve been awake for a while. I got concerned when you didn’t wake up, so I took a peek at your dreams and saw you were trapped in the house, so I went in and pulled you out.”

“Something I am truly grateful for,” I say.

Suddenly, I hear Cam in the hallway. “I need help, something’s wrong with Nix.”

We look at each other and jump out of bed, throwing our clothes on and rushing out as Kean comes running out.

“Something’s wrong with Titus.”

“We can help,” Sly says. “I’ve just pulled Ebby out of a nightmare. Eb, you help Titus, and I’ll help Nix.”

I follow Kean into their room and see Titus lying on the bed. “Can I sit on the bed and touch his arm?”

Kean nods. “Whatever you need to do, have at it.”

“Thanks.” I sit on the side of the bed next to Titus and touch his arm. I close my eyes and look for a way into his dreams, but whatever I try doesn’t work. Dark magic is surrounding his dreams. I draw back, frustrated, and look at Kean. “I can’t find a way inside to bring him out,” I confess.

“You need dark magic to get out. I take it Sly brought you out?” Justice asks from the doorway, Alfred by his side.

I nod. “He did,” I stare at Justice. “Your magic is almost black.”

“It is. Let me help Titus.”

I move out of the way and watch Justice take my place.

“Justice can make his magic go dark grey, almost black, and still stay good,” Alfred tells me.

“Someone, Sal needs help,” Jude calls from the hallway.

I hurry out of the room. “Sly and Justice are helping the others and will help Sal as soon as they’ve finished. If it is the same thing that Justice and I had, he’s stuck in a nightmare that only dark magic can bring us out of.”

Just as I finish, Sly and Justice meet us in the hall, Cam, Nix, Kean and Temp with them.

“I’ll come and help Sal. Sly, do you want to check on Ernest?” Justice asks.

“He needs help as well,” Adhan says, rushing over to us.

“I’ll come and get him. He’s trapped in a nightmare,” Sly tells him.

“I’ll take the children downstairs and get them settled in the lounge,” Emily says, holding Connie.

I’ve no idea when they all arrived.

“Thanks, Emily,” I say. I look at my brothers. “We’re okay,” I assure them.

Enoch gives me a relieved smile as they and Nora go off with Emily.

“Let me come and help Ernest,” Sly says, taking my hand as we follow Adhan to their bedroom.

I wonder if all the dreams are the same, with some of us dying in the haunted house. I really hope not.

Sly sits on the side of the bed next to Ernest, closes his eyes, and touches Ernest’s arm.

As he works, everyone else joins us.