Page 35 of Black and White, Twice the Might (Cadenbury Town #8)

A fter we finish breakfast, we go and collect our cases and bags. Sly has a last look around both rooms, making sure nothing has been missed. We pay our bill, and receive hugs from both Larry and Janice.

We drop our bags off at home, then make our way to the baker’s, this time buying enough Cornish pasties, cakes and water for everyone. We drive back home and wait for Jude and Nora to turn up.

“Hey Jude, thanks for this,” I say, as Jude pulls us into hugs.

“It’s my thing. Your brothers will be safe with me.”

“We know, thanks. Plus, the house and grounds are warded. So, between them and you, they know they’re safe,” Sly replies.

“We brought goodies for the four of you. I would say help yourself to whatever you want, but all we have is coffee and squash,” I add with a grin.

Jude laughs. “Coffee is good. Thanks for the treats. Now off you go, the children and I have this covered.”

“Thanks, Jude,” Sly says.

“Boys,” I yell, as I have no idea where they are.

They come running out of one of the reception rooms, Xander pushing Connie in a little round walker thing. Connie is smiling her little head off.

Sly squats down and strokes her hand. “Hey, Princess, having fun?”

Connie smiles and grabs his finger.

“It’s the first time we’ve tried her in it. Looks like she likes it,” Jude says, smiling at his daughter.

She gives Jude a massive smile and holds her little arms up.

Jude picks her up. “Looks like I’m teaching you, how to put up bookcases as well today, Princess.”

“And on that note, we’re off. Have fun,” I say.

“We will,” Xander says.

“Have fun lifting boxes,” Enoch adds, grinning at us.

We laugh.

“Thanks. We’ll see you later,” Sly says.

“Come on, my happy workforce, let’s go build stuff,” Jude says.

We make it to the lockup before anyone else and start loading the car up.

“How can we have so much stuff?” I gripe, lifting another box.

Sly laughs. “Because when we packed our places up, we didn’t throw anything out, plus we bought things along the way.”

“Yeah, we should have probably thrown some stuff out,” I say, putting the box in the boot of the car.

Another car drives towards us and parks further down.

I ignore it and walk back into our lockup. I playfully knock Sly’s arm as he passes me, carrying another box.

“Sylvester,” I hear a male voice say.

“Swayne,” Sly replies, sounding surprised.

I turn away from the box I was about to pick up and quickly walk out and over to Sly.

The man, Swayne, looks me over with a sneer on his face. He’s a few inches shorter than Sly, the rest of him is so ordinary that if you looked away, you’d probably forget you’d even seen him.

“What do you want, Swayne?” Sly asks, making no move to get any closer to whoever Swayne is, and putting the box he is carrying on the ground.

“Is this your ...,” he pauses as if he can’t bring himself to finish that sentence.

“My, what Swayne? My husband of nearly six years, my best friend, the love of my life, my partner in crime? Yes, to all of them. Now tell me why you’re here and how you found me,” he demands.

I take Sly's hand. “A friend of yours, babe?”

Sly gives a rude snort. “Gah, no, my brother. Now, Swine, answer my questions.”

It’s weird now I think about it, but I don’t know the names of any of Sly’s family.

Swayne’s cheeks turn red, and anger covers his face. “Do not call me Swine.”

“Then answer my questions, Swine,” he taunts.

Swayne moves his hand slightly.

“Don’t even think about throwing magic at Sly,” I tell him.

Sly bursts out laughing. “If he did nothing would happen. Swine here’s magic is pathetic. Think newborn magic. It’s quite tragic, really.”

“Newborn magic? I’ll show you how newborn my magic is, brother,” Swayne says, and suddenly there is an explosion from inside our lockup, destroying pretty much everything that was left in there.

I drop Sly’s hand and rush over to try to put the fire out and see what can be saved. I’ll leave Sly to deal with his brother.

I’m putting the fire out when Sal comes running over and helps.

“Looks like we got here at the right time,” he says, as the fire dies down.

“We?” I ask.

“Me and Justice came together. Who’s the idiot?”

“Sly’s brother,” I say with a sigh.

The fire is out; we clear the smoke out, and I look at the destruction. No amount of magic is bringing some of these things back.

“Let’s check on Sly and Justice,” I say, wondering what Sly has done to his brother.

As Sal and I walk out, I see the other family members are turning up. I ignore them and look towards Sly and Justice. They are both standing by Swayne, who is currently encased in a magical bubble, looking battered and bruised.

“Start talking, or I’ll break every bone in your body,” Sly demands angrily.

“We found you via scrying. But wherever you’re currently staying seems to be blocked from us. We searched for the last place you had been, and it brought us here. I've been coming here every day for a week at different times, hoping you’d turn up again.”

Thank goodness the town protection works.

“Why do you want to see Sly?” Justice asks.

“You should know why, Rhett,” Swayne spits out. “Your family is looking for you.”

Justice laughs. “First off, my name is Justice and has been for years. Secondly, my biologicals are old news. Most of them are dead, and those that aren’t have practically no magic left.”

Swayne looks shocked. “So, the rumours about the Bannisters are true, then. That’s too bad for them,” he says, looking back at Sly. “Father wants to know why you’re ignoring his emails. I’m to find you and bring you to a family meeting.”

“I’ve been ignoring his and everyone else’s emails for over five years. Why should now be any different?”

“Because it is,” Swayne snaps out.

“Why does your lockup look like something exploded in there?” Kean asks, walking over to it and having a closer look.

“Because Swine blew it up,” I tell him.

“It’s Swayne,” he shouts at me.

“I’d stick with Swine,” Temp adds.

Swayne scowls. “Why are you mixing with grey and light witches? And since when are there grey witches?”

“There have been grey witches for years, and my husband is a light witch,” Sly points out.

“But you’re an evil, dark true witch. They should hate you.”

Ernest moves to stand next to Sly and turns to look at Sly in pretend shock. “You’re an evil, dark witch? Oh no, I’m suddenly really scared of you. Help, someone.”

“We’ll get right on that,” Tie says, grinning at Sly. “Begone, evil one.” He paused for a moment. “Well, that didn’t work.”

“Maybe if we bibbidi bobbidi boo him,” Nix suggests.

“Bibbidi bobbidi Boo,” I say, grinning at Sly.

“Bad luck, sweetheart,” Sly replies with his own grin, before turning back to look at his brother, the smile falling off his face. “This is for blowing up our stuff.”

Sly flicks his fingers at his brother, who bends over, screaming in agony.

I squeeze Sly’s hand. “That’s enough now.”

Sly clicks his fingers and stops whatever he’s doing to his brother. “Get in your car and leave. If I ever see you again, you’ll come off a lot worse than this.”

Justice gets rid of the bubble, and we watch a still, bent over Swayne, stumble to his car and drive away.