by R K Dreaming
“You did,” she said. “You had just started crawling and Domino only left you in the nursery for a moment and you crawled out of your crib and went for an adventure out of the window. My heart nearly stopped when I saw you bouncing around the garden.”
She put her hand on her heart and smiled fondly. “And when I came out to get you off the lake, you refused to come. I had to threaten you with my wand before you listened, and then you bounced right over to me. You were the most adorable little thing.”
She stroked my hair fondly.
“But I never had that much magic,” I protested.
“You did,” said Granny Selma shortly. “And now you don’t, so what’s the point in talking about it?”
She glared at mum.
But for once mum, who was always such an obedient daughter, refused to back down.
She beamed at me. “You had so much magic we had to make you an amulet to hide it from people,” she assured me.
“Really? Why?”
“Why do you think?” said Aunt Tabby. “People like those Hardwicks were bound to get jealous and try to do you harm.”
“But… But what happened to my magic?” I said. My head was still spinning. I thought I had never had much magic. I never knew this.
“It went,” said Granny Selma shortly, in such a tone of finality that even Aunt Tabby didn’t disobey her.
“What about the amulet?” I asked.
“You lost it,” she said, looking annoyed.
“Did you make it, Granny Selma? Could you make me another one?”
My heart was racing. An amulet that was capable of disguising magic was just what I needed to hide my true self from people. Having one of those would make me feel much safer when I was out and about in Brimstone or anywhere.
Granny Selma looked at me in annoyance. “You don’t need it anymore.”
“Please granny,” I said. “It would mean a lot to me.”
“Back a day and asking for favours already,” she grumbled.
But Aunt Tabby winked at me behind granny’s back, and I knew that she would persuade granny to make it. I smiled my thanks at her.
I sat there quietly making chit chat with mum and Allegra for a while and the family resumed talking about their usual gossip, with a lot of grumbling about the new mayor. The talk soon turned to the murder.
“I heard talk that you found the body, Esme,” said Aunt Narcissa suddenly.
Granny Selma’s sharp eyes immediately zoomed in on me. “What? You found the body?” she demanded.
I nodded.
Mum gave a cry of shock.
I reached out to pat her hand. “It’s alright, mum. The killer was long gone.”
“But what were you doing there?” Granny Selma demanded. “We heard that the body was found in the gardens of Brimstone Castle!”
I nodded. “That’s where I’m staying.”
Granny stiffened. She glared at me, as if so astonished by this shocking piece of treacherous news that she did not know what to say to me.
Another cackle came from Aunt Tabby.
“I knew it,” she said in a singsong voice. “I knew that Adele would leave Brimstone Castle to one of our girls.”
She reached across to pat Granny Selma’s hand. “See? She always was loyal to her family after all. And now we have the castle back again! Ha!”
There was a collective gasp of shock from all around the room, and everyone stared at me. Everyone except Allegra, Viv and Flaffy who already knew.
“You?” said Uncle Radaghast angrily. “She left it to you?” There was sheer contempt and disbelief in his voice.
I nodded. “She left it to me,” I said calmly. And I smiled at him. Smugly.
“I can’t believe it!” Cora said. “Why did she leave it to you, Esme? You haven’t even lived here in nearly twenty years. It’s not fair—”
She cut herself off sharply and she exchanged a quick glance with Coco. Then said, “Actually, I’d rather it was you of course than one of the Hardwicks.”
“Congratulations,” said Coco. “That’s wonderful news.”
“Thanks,” I said dryly.
But I fully well knew why neither of the twins could be truly happy for me. It wasn’t really their fault. They had their desires to win the family quest hanging over them. As far as they were concerned, owning the castle gave me an edge over them. This made them nervous.
“I think it’s fabulous,” said Allegra. “It’s really good news, isn’t it Granny Selma, that the castle is finally back in the family fold?”
Granny Selma looked torn. The castle was a symbol of her sister Adele’s betrayal, and yet the castle was something that the Brimstones and Hardwicks had fought to possess the centuries. It being back in Westbrim hands was definitely a boon for the family. It gave granny one over on her nemesis Lavinia Hardwick. It should have made her happy, but she clearly had ambiguous feelings about it.
Finally she nodded. “I suppose it is good news.”
“Wonderful,” said Aunt Tabby. “I’m glad you’ve agreed that Selma. Perhaps we ought to pop by and visit Adele one of these days. Put past issues behind us. Let bygones be bygones.”
Granny Selma looked at Aunt Tabby with an expression of horror mixed with something else I could not read. Greif maybe. Clearly she had not known yet that Aunt Adele was still around.
“What?” she said.
Tabby nodded, a smile playing on her lips. She never had been afraid of her big sister. Not like the rest of us.
“She’s a poltergeist now,” she confirmed. “And still making those delicious cakes of hers. I’ve heard she’s reopened the castle café. We should go in and get a slice one of these days. I know you have missed her cakes.”
“I most certainly have not,” said Granny Selma angrily, her tone indicating that this was the end of the conversation.
I felt relieved. At least that cat was out of the bag and it hadn’t gone down too badly.
I thought I had got away with it when Granny Selma said to me, “You shall move back into Willow Manor immediately. I will tell Frasier to prepare your old room.”
Mum looked relieved. She looked at me pleadingly, knowing how stubborn I was.
“I don’t feel right having you over there,” she said. “And there’s been a murder on the property. Why don’t you do what granny says, love?”
I shook my head firmly. “The police have got the murder in hand. They’re investigating. I don’t feel unsafe there. And anyway, Aunt Adele has reassured me that the seven ghosts keep a very strict eye on the place.”
This was not exactly true, given our recent break-ins, but I knew that this would shut them up for good. The seven ghosts were legendary. And more than a little ominous.
I saw Cora shudder a little at my mention of them.
“Not close enough,” said Granny Selma acidly, “or there wouldn’t have been a murder about the place. And I don’t trust that Hawke Hardwick to solve it either. Not one bit! No nephew of Lavinia’s ever cared for us Westbrims. I bet Lavinia Hardwick is loving this,” she added sourly.
I did not comment.
Granny Selma looked at me shrewdly. “And don’t you think I don’t know all about your last little misadventure,” she said.
The bite in her tone let me know she was referring to my previous accusation of murder. I couldn’t believe it. How had she found out?
My mouth dropped open. I snapped it shut immediately because Viv and Coco and Cora and all my uncles and aunts were looking at me with great interest. Granny had been purposefully cryptic and no one dared to question her except Aunt Narcissa.
“Misadventure?” she said, her eyes gleaming. “Surely you don’t mean that Esme was—”
“Be quiet, Narcissa!” snapped granny.
Aunt Narcissa fell into a resentful silence.
I snuck a quick glance at Allegra who gave me the tiniest of shrugs as if to say that she had no idea how granny knew.
Fortunately granny start
ed complaining about Lavinia Hardwick again and this distracted everyone. I let them chat about the murder among themselves and did not let on that I knew anything about it. Mum would only panic.
Knowing this, Allegra came to sit with me and mum and she expertly turned the conversation towards flaffiness recipes for the winter festive season. Aunt Cerci quickly took up her lead.
After I had determined that I’d spent enough time listening to the chit chat in the grown-ups lounge, Allegra, Viv, Flaffy and I made our escape into the kids lounge.
This had been our domain when we had been younger, but now I supposed it was the domain of the new batch.
There were fewer kids in the youngest generations of the family, much to Granny Selma’s disappointment. We found just five of them in the kids lounge.
“Sprogs!” Viv said loudly as we entered. “We have arrived. Come and greet your elders and betters.”
Fourteen-year-old Begonia and ten-year-old Herb did not look much impressed at this. They were as standoffish as their father Elphius and greeted me politely. The glances they exchanged with each other made me feel sure that they had heard things about me that they did not approve of. I was taken by surprise at this.
However, four-year-olds Romy and Gaya ran forward to give us all adorable hugs. I was so excited to see them and dispensed Aunt Adele’s truffles to them, much to their glee. The little cuties filled their cheeks with them.
“No more!” said Allegra quickly. “It’ll make them hyper.”
I gave them each a few more to share with Begonia and Herb and they excitedly dispensed them to their older cousins.
I gave a cry of delight as I spotted little baby Luna, who was being attended by poltergeist Domino.
Domino greeted me cheerily and plopped the baby into my arms immediately. Baby Luna took one look at my face and her lower lip wobbled. I cooed at her, but she stubbornly screwed up her face, threatening to cry. Defeated for now, but determined to try again later, I handed her back to Domino before she started wailing.
We also found our youngest Aunt Sybil in the room, mother to cutie-pie Rory who had affectionately settled herself onto my lap, much to the dismay of her shyer playmate Gaya.
“I haven’t seen you in so long-long-long,” said Rory, investigating my face with her plump little hands. “Mummy said you’ve been sick.”
“I have,” I said cuddling her. “But I’m better now.”
“Did you get chicken spots?” she asked.
I chuckled. “Not chicken pox.”
“I got chicken spots. Here, and here and here.” She pointed out everywhere they had been with a look of great concentration.
“I heard,” I said. “And I’m so glad you’re all better now.”
“And I got chicken spots too!” boasted Gaya from across the room where she was clutching a little hovering broomstick as it tried to fly off.
“And you’ve both done really well taking your potions and getting better like big girls,” I said.
“You feel cold,” Rory complained.
I planted a kiss on her forehead, gave her one last cuddle, and set her free to re-join Gaya with their toy broomsticks.
“How come you’re not in the main room?” I asked Aunt Sybil.
While she was our aunt, she was only seven years older than me and Allegra.
She got up to give me a hug.
“I’m in the bad books,” she said. “I’ve just told mum that I’m getting a divorce.”
Allegra gasped. “Oh no! Did I miss it?”
“You didn’t miss much,” said Viv.
“What did granny say?” I asked.
Aunt Sybil made a face. “She said that I was letting the family down.”
“You ignore her,” I said hotly. “Your husband is the one who let you down. Good on you for making your decision.”
Aunt Sybil nodded. “Thanks, dear.”
Aunt Sybil and her husband Damien had been separated for half a year now. But granny had been pressuring them to get back together. Granny believed that you had to battle your way through the fairy-tale curse, even if your partner let you down.
But only as long as your partner was a wizard, of course. If your partner happened to be a Humble, she’d tell you to drop them like a hot cake immediately.
Even so, I wasn’t looking forward to her finding out about me and Drew. Because first she’d probably have quite a lot to say about the mistake I had made marrying him in the first place.
The rest of the evening in the family home was far more pleasant than I had expected. It was lovely in fact.
We enjoyed the many teas and nibbles and cakes brought to us by Miles the poltergeist, who crafted excellent culinary creations. My favourite was the little bowl of Indian-spiced pasta with minced lamb he brought us. I could have easily eaten four of them.
Indian was granny’s favourite cuisine and Miles was an expert at making it, though I knew he would have much preferred if she had enjoyed French cuisine half as much.
Nine o’clock came sooner than I had expected, and I realised with a jolt that I was going to be late to meet Jasper. I jumped up with a start.
After borrowing a handful of outfits from Allegra’s wardrobe, I went downstairs to say goodbye to granny and mum.
Mum gave me another cuddle. Granny frowned at me as if still displeased, but deigned to give me a pat on the cheek.
“Those Hardwicks must be furious that you’ve inherited the castle,” she said. “It’s not above Lavinia Hardwick to try to frame you for that murder. You had better be careful out there all alone, my girl.”
14. Club Nocturne
Allegra etherhopped me home to Mansion House. We arrived near the front door of the castle to find Jasper sitting on the steps waiting for me.
“What are you doing here?” said Allegra in surprise.
“Oh, hey Allegra,” he said. “Waiting for Esme.”
She looked at the two of us curiously. An odd half smile came onto her face.
“So what are you two up to?” she asked us both lightly.
I hadn’t told her about my plan to go with Jasper to Club Nocturne. I suppose I thought she might be annoyed with me. After all, she was the one who had wanted to question Beachbum and I had told her that we should stay out of it and leave it to the professionals. And now I had changed my mind.
I never could keep secrets from Allegra so I ended up spilling the beans right there on the doorstep.
She was rightfully annoyed.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” she said accusingly.
“Do you want to come?” said Jasper.
Allegra scowled. “I wouldn’t want to be a third wheel on your date.”
“It’s not a date,” I said immediately.
“If you say so,” retorted Jasper.
Allegra looked a bit annoyed.
“Just come with us,” I said, wanting to appease her. “And anyway, we might need you?”
I looked at her pleadingly.
Allegra’s wand might come in handy if we ended up upsetting anyone by asking dodgy questions. But then again, Jasper also had his own gift to bring to a confrontation. Or a curse, depending on how you looked at it. In addition to Allure, baena had a second magical ability called their Hunger. They needed to feed on the life energy of other beings to survive. Just a little bit would do. But they could do serious damage with it if they wanted to. Even kill.
But Hunger needed skin to skin contact. A wand beat it out at a distance and in many other ways.
Allegra rolled her eyes. “Of course you’re going to need me,” she said. “It’s a good job you’ve brought along a few of my spare outfits. I can’t go dressed like this.”
She gestured down to her elegant lilac robes. These were the sorts of things she wore to keep granny happy, but only when Allegra felt like it. Allegra didn’t mind shaking things up every once in a while. I knew that wearing these robes tonight had been a favour to me. She’d wanted everything to go smoothly
on my first evening at home.
“Excellent!” said Jasper, looking really pleased.
I rolled my eyes at him. It looked like he wasn’t too bothered about this being a date after all.
While Jasper hung out with Aunt Adele, who was experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, Allegra and I went up to my bedroom to change outfits.
As we walked up the stairs of South Tower, she said, “I wonder how granny knew about the last time you were… er, there when someone died.”
“You mean the last time I was accused of murder?” I said. “You don’t have to be afraid of saying it, Ali. You know that had nothing at all to do with me and my name was completely cleared.”
“Of course it was!” she said. “But I hope no one else has heard about it because it won’t look good for you.” She looked worried.
“Tell me about it,” I said glumly.
We arrived in my bedroom. She looked around the large circular room with great interest. “It’s really different from Willow Manor, isn’t it?”
Willow Manor was more modern, its interior walls plastered and painted. The castle had a lot of exposed grey brick slabs and tapestries to stave off the cold. I was glad for the thick pile rugs on my floor or it would have been freezing in here. It had a big open fireplace and when the fire was roaring in there the circular room became cosy and very pleasant. My favourite part was the stout old four poster bed with the thick curtains I could draw around myself at night. For something so old, it was extremely comfortable.
I disappeared into the bathroom to change into a peach and black flower-print babydoll dress of Allegra’s.
I didn’t want to get changed in front of Allegra. I was worried she might take a look at my newfound gauntness and begin wondering how it was possible that in the three weeks since I had last seen her, that I had lost so much weight.
I even felt like my skin had changed tone. It was colder now, both in temperature and shade. The less Allegra saw of it, the better.
I eyed up my sunblock automatically, feeling the urge to put some on. But it was night. And I would be home long before dawn. I had to stop being paranoid about things going wrong. And I was going to be with Allegra after all.
The warm peach of the dress helped to bring out a bit more warmth in my skin. It used to be pleasantly honey coloured, even without the sun. These days I felt it looked ashy.