Page 48 of Black and White, Twice the Might (Cadenbury Town #8)

O f all the stupid ideas, this one is right up there. Coming to look around a farmhouse, with my two younger brothers in tow, in the dark.

“This is exciting,” Enoch says, from the backseat.

“It’s something,” I mutter.

Sly grins over at me as I turn onto the farm drive.

We pass the destroyed barn and drive towards the farmhouse. There are car lights following.

I did indeed message Temp about coming with us to look at the farmhouse. Temp jumped at the chance, judging by the cars following, he told the others, and they decided to come as well.

“The farmhouse is in darkness,” Xander observes.

“That must be a sign it’s empty,” Enoch says.

I pull up near the front door.

“Not necessarily, they could be in back rooms,” Sly tells them. “Once inside, stick with us and don’t do anything stupid.”

“We won’t,” they both readily agree.

I open my door and get out, the other three doing the same. Just as a car pulls up next to ours.

The door opens, and a laughing Temp gets out. “Nearly everyone who was at the film night is here. Nix and Cam stayed back to look after Nora and Connie, and Adhan dragged Ernest off to their bedroom straight after dinner. Expect pouting and moaning tomorrow.”

I burst out laughing.

“We came as well, because you really didn’t think we’d stay behind, did you?” Justice asks, Alfred at his side.

“Plus, I get to have fun with you all,” Alfred adds.

“Is there a plan for this?” Kean asks, Titus at his side.

“Go in the farmhouse and look around,” Sly suggests.

“That’s it? That’s the plan?” Jude asks, joining us, Sal at his side.

“Umm, yes,” I say, shrugging a shoulder.

Sal rubs his hands together. “Let’s head on inside then.”

“Wait,” Xander says, holding his hands up.

“What’s wrong, Xander?” Justice asks.

“I know you all know more about magic than I do, but should you not check for traps or things like that?”

“You’re right, Xander, they should,” Kean replies, scowling at us.

Titus nudges his shoulder. “Okay, witchlings, on the count of three, send your magic out to see what it can find,” Titus tells us. “Three.”

I send my magic out, and it joins with the other witchlings’ magic. I’m now wondering if the boys should stay in the car.

“No,” Enoch says, frowning my way and crossing his arms over his chest.

“I’ve not said anything yet,” I protest.

“You were gonna. We’re not staying in the car.”

“Hell no. It was our idea to come,” Xander points out.

“True,” I reply distractedly, as I remember I sent my magic to look at the farmhouse earlier, and now I think about it, it never came back. I look at Temp. “Did your magic come back to you earlier?”

“Huh, now you mention it, no.”

Justice looks at us. “You both sent your magic out earlier?”

We nod.

“Yeah, to see what it would find, but like we said, it didn’t come back. Neither has the magic I just sent out,” Temp tells him.

“Has anyone’s magic come back?” Jude asks.

We all shake our heads.

“Do you think they found a way to keep our magic?” Sal asks, frowning.

“Hell no, are they keeping it. Let’s go,” Temp ordered, stomping towards the front door.

We all follow. Temp goes to open the front door, but Ben stops him. “Hold up, Tink, I’ll go in first.”

“Okay, Greasy,” he replies, moving out of the way.

Ben tries the door handle, and it opens seamlessly. “Be on your guard, everyone, that was too easy,” he warns.

I look at Enoch and Xander and put a protective shield around them. I know they have protection necklaces and the protection rune, but you can’t be too careful.

We all cautiously walk through the front door, but nothing strange happens.

The entrance to the farmhouse leads to a large lounge that is empty of all furniture.

“That’s why no one came running earlier, no one lives here,” Kean comments.

“Do farmhouses like this have a basement?” Xander asks, looking at the floor.

“I honestly don’t know, why?” I ask.

“Because something weird is going on underneath here,” he replies.

“Spread out and look for a way into a basement,” Kean orders.

I follow Xander and Enoch through the room and into a surprisingly small galley kitchen.

“Somehow I thought this would be bigger,” Sly remarks, looking around.

“It doesn’t match the house,” I say. “This place is large, why have such a small kitchen?”

“Because it’s obviously hiding something,” Enoch replies, walking along it. “But where?”

I start tapping walls, trying to find a hidden door, Sly’s doing the same, while Xander and Enoch are looking in cupboards.

“Found it,” Sly calls, pulling open a door that, if you weren’t looking for it, you would totally miss it.

I look inside, steps are going down, but it’s dark, and apart from the first few steps, I can’t make anything else out. I step forward and feel around for a light switch, but can’t find one.

“Xander, Enoch, stay up here while Ebby and I go down there.”

“What?” Enoch practically shouts.

“Hell no, are we waiting up here,” Xander gripes, scowling.

“You’ll both stay up here while Sly and I look down there. If we don’t come back up in a reasonable time, get help,” I tell them sternly.

“But ...,” Xander starts to protest.

I glare at him.

“Fine,” he snaps out.

“Thank you,” I say in relief.

Sly flicks his hand out, and a soft light is now illuminating the stairs.

I would send my magic out to have a look, but I don’t want to lose any more of it.

Sly starts walking down the stairs, and I follow, ignoring my brothers’ angry mutterings.