Page 53 of Black and White, Twice the Might

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 eveningsees 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 nurseryrhymes, 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.”