Page 51 of Black and White, Twice the Might (Cadenbury Town #8)

W e wrap up warm as we leave the house and walk to the town green where the bonfire is being lit. The fireworks display is due to start in about an hour.

It’s been a few days since the kidnapping and farm incident, and Ernest is still pouting.

Sly and I laughed as we kept getting messages from him, cursing our names.

He’s also complained in the true witch group and the family group.

No one has any sympathy for him. Temp keeps replying with some form of, you should come to more film nights and not go off to have wild monkey sex.

Neither Sly nor I have commented on that, not like the Stone brothers. I’m not even going to think about those replies.

I’ve finally finish cleaning my workshop and my equipment, and this morning I place orders for new flavouring and everything else I need.

Tomorrow, my chocolate should arrive, and then I can start making my shell casings.

If my chocolate takes off, I can invest in a bigger melting machine. We’ll see.

“I wonder if they’ll have hot apple or orange juice,” Enoch comments, pulling me out of my head.

“Or hot chocolate,” Xander adds.

“I smell hot chestnuts,” Sly sighs out.

“We’ll walk around and see what they have. It’s a shame Elliot couldn’t stay.” I had a text from him this morning saying they had an issue with their next location, which he had to go and sort out.

Sly takes my gloved hand. “I don’t think it will be long before he comes back.”

We reach the green and see lots of people milling around, chatting and laughing. The bonfire is alight and crackling brightly against the darkness.

“I love the smell of bonfires,” Xander says. “Enoch and I are off to look around.”

I smile happily at my brothers. “Here, let me give you some money for your drinks.” I pull my gloves off and take some money out of my pocket, handing it over.

“Thanks, Ebb. See you later.”

I watch as the boys walk away laughing and joking.

“Thank goodness,” Sly says, watching them go. “With everything that’s happened lately, I was worried they’d be scared again.”

I put my gloves back on and take Sly’s hand. “Me too, but the town is protected, so they know we’re all safe here.”

“So, Ernest is trying to get us to go back to the farm and try out the portal,” Sal says, walking over to join us. Little Connie in his arms.

Sly drops my hand and plucks Connie out of Sal’s. “Hello, Princess. Look at your lovely coat and hat.”

Connie smiles and pats his cheek.

“When are we going?” I ask him.

Sal laughs. “We’re not. I sent my magic out to look at it, but it’s completely closed. I think that happened when I closed the one at the farmhouse.”

“Poor Earnest,” I comment with fake sympathy, taking Connie’s other hand and playing with her.

Sly and Sal laugh. “We need to look at opening that box and getting our magic back.”

Titus and Kean walk over and join us, both of them carrying drinks.

“We do,” Titus replies, obviously hearing our conversation. “We want to do it in a full circle in the bunker. There are some strange runes on there. We thought you could have a look at them, Sly.”

“Justice and I looked but didn’t recognise them,” Sal tells us.

“I can look; chances are they are dark runes to trap our magic. Hopefully, that will be all and not something that will turn our magic black.”

“What?” I exclaim, dropping Connie’s hand and staring at him.

“That can happen?” Titus asks in shock. “I’ve never heard of white magic turning dark before.”

“I don’t know if it’s true, but I remember my parents talking about something to do with turning magic black when I was younger. When we’re next at the bunker, I can call their Book of Shadows to me and have a look. It’s not like any of them will be able to use it again.”

“We can do that. I’ll send a message to everyone and find out when we can do it. Handsome, can you hold my drink for me?” Titus asks, holding it out.

“Sure, honey,” Kean says, grinning.

Titus glares at Kean. “Do not drink my drink.”

Kean laughs. “I make no promises.”

Titus shakes his head and pulls his phone out of his pocket.

I look at Kean. “Are there many people at the manor?”

Ernest hates fireworks and is hosting a non-fireworks party, which will be films and chocolate.

“More than I thought there would be. I never realised how many people didn’t like firework parties,” he replies.

“It’s the oo's and aw's that annoy people,” Sly says.

“And the loud bangs,” I point out.

“Okay, all sent,” Titus tells us, pocketing his phone and taking his drink back.

Kean sips his drink. “Did you leave the boys at home?”

I shake my head. “Nope, they happily walked off on their own and are around here somewhere.”

“That’s really good,” Titus says, before taking a drink.

“It shocked but pleased us,” Sly replies, before looking at Connie. “Didn’t it, Princess?”

Connie doesn’t reply, but holds out her arms to Sal.

“Come to daddy, Princess,” he says, taking his daughter, and she snuggles close, closing her eyes.

Sal kisses her cheek. “I’m off to find Jude and then put Connie to bed. See you all around.”

We watch as they walk away.

“I need a hot drink,” I announce.

“We’ll come with you. I’ve finished my hot chocolate. I want hot cider now,” Kean says.

Sly takes my hand. “Now I don’t know if I want hot chocolate or hot cider.”

We start walking towards the drink’s stations, Kean and Titus with us. “Start with hot chocolate and then move onto hot cider, and in between have your hot chestnuts.”

“I like your thinking, Ebby,” Kean says, taking Titus’ hand. “Hot chestnuts it is.”