Page 30 of Black and White, Twice the Might

“Was it though?” Sly asks, grinning like mad.

I watch John take the mug out of Molly’s hand and walk closer to the bed. “Drink, son,” he tells him sternly, holding the mug out to Ernest.

“I added mint, for extra flavour,” Sly says.

Ernest shakes his head. “Yeah, you’re gonna fit right in with us.”

“Drink,” his mother demands.

“Please, sweetheart,” Adhan says, leaning his head next to Ernest’s.

Ernest gives an impressive, dramatic sigh. “Fine,” he says, taking the mug.

From the smell, that healing tea is going to taste rank.

Ernest drinks it down in one and coughs. “I can honestly say the mint didn’t help.”

Sly laughs. “I never said it would.”

“Gah,” Ernest says, handing the mug back to his father and flopping against Adhan’s side again.

“The Dark One also destroyed all dark magic that was still in the Haunted Walk,” Molly announces.

“I can’t believe I missed zombies and vampires,” Cassie says.

“Don’t forget the rock apples,” Ernest says.

“Rock apples?” Adhan asks.

Justice explains about the apple tree. “Everyone is loving the walk, and nobody's getting hurt.”

“Except for Ben and Ernest,” Sion points out.

“True. So now we just need to worry about the Haunted House and the fair,” Adhan says, looking at Molly. “What did you and Cleo decide? Should we close the event down?”

Molly shakes her head. “No, as Sion said, only Ben and young’un have been hurt. We can up the protection around you all to keep you safe. Cleo was going to protect her family.”

“I like the idea of us cackling around a cauldron,” Cassie says.

I hear groans from the others.

Cackling around a cauldron? I wonder what that’s about?

Molly cackles. “Perfect. That’s your task for tomorrow night, witchlings, don’t forget to dress up. Now young’un has beendezombied, I’m off home,” and with that, Molly practically sails out of the room.

“Did she just leave, so she got the last word in and so we couldn’t say no to the cauldron?” Nix asks, looking shocked.

Elaine laughs. “She did indeed. I’m leaving as well. Ernest, call me if you need me. Night, everyone,” and just like that, Elaine is gone.

“I didn’t really turn into a zombie, did I?” Ernest asks the room generally.

“No, sweetheart,” Adhan assures him.

“I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have, anyway. We just wanted to make sure,” Sly tells him.

“I still don’t understand how it happened. I mean, that zombie was a hologram. I put my hand through it.”

“I think by doing that, you made it solid,” Titus tells me.