by Edrei Cullen
Wheelbarrow’s office was still secure and unharmed. Its windows were intact and even though the corridors to get to it were smouldering slightly, they were passable. The children slipped in and locked the door behind them securely.
‘We need to get in touch with Samantha and Humphrey,’ said Charlie. ‘I told them to search through your mum’s diaries for any clues. They have to be important. I thought there might be something in the library too because these Flitterwig File pages tell me that “history is our guiding hand”, but it’s too late for that.’
Ella listened closely and acted at once. Encouraging him gently, she sent Dixon back to Willow Farm to get Sam and Humph. He was the only creature with enough Portality skills other than herself that could do so.
‘Okay,’ said Charlie, once Dixon was gone. ‘Now let’s test the Key theory.’
Ella scooped Charlie off her shoulder, knowing instinctively what Charlie wanted her to do—to put him in the box with the Keys to see if he would be safe from the Scatterbungle when he was near them.
She set him down, let go of him, stepped away and waited. A minute passed. Two.
He was fine! The Keys staved off the effects of the poison! Ella looped the Key on the strap that Samuel had given her around Charlie’s wrist. The cord fell on the floor. The Key at his feet was almost as big as him.
‘Now put me back to normal, for Magic’s sake,’ said Charlie looking up at Ella, his eyes sparkling with excitement. ‘Hurry.’
‘OOOOOOWWOOOOW!’ he hollered as she Stretchified him back to his right size. Max’s knees shook as he watched. ‘OOOOOOOOOOWWWOW!’
Charlie shook out his shoulders and looked about him, delighted to be able to look Ella in the eyes again. He pointed at the fire spreading outside the windows. It was passing across the grounds like a carpet of serpents, seeking out magic to devour. It paused as it approached the windows of the office and then slid back.
Charlie opened the rolled pages in his hands again. ‘Listen to this,’ he said urgently. ‘And sooth, there is no other way, unless the Elven child, unleashes all she holds within, to seal the true divide.’
‘You know what that means, don’t you Ella?’ said Charlie.
Max hadn’t said a word for ages. How could he? Stuff was happening right before his eyes that he couldn’t ever have imagined was possible.
‘It means I need to do something to make the Keys visible to everyone—in order to seal the true divide,’ said Ella, her brain tuning in to the magical possibilities as fast as Charlie’s. ‘If only I knew what it was inside me that I’m supposed to unleash!’
She paced the room. Who could help her? Surely there was someone! She willed an answer to come to her. There was nothing, except a faint stirring… and then it hit her.
‘Wrinkles!’ said Ella. ‘We have to contact him!’ Why on Earth hadn’t she thought of him before? Wrinkles, the Elf Queen of Magus’s Goblin Protector, had told her that if she ever needed the Magicals’ help, all she had to do was rub his earring and he would be there as soon as he could. It had been so long since she had needed his Magical help that she had almost forgotten his promise to her three years ago! She rummaged through her bag, trying to locate the powerful beacon.
chapter 16
disappointments & determination
But Wrinkles didn’t come when Ella rubbed the earring. No. Instead of Wrinkles appearing, an envelope flew up out of a glass of water on Ms Wheelbarrow’s desk and settled in Ella’s palm, its arms and wings furling up as it landed.
It was a purple envelope with a gold ribbon.
Dear Ella,
Oh I am so glad you called for me! For I cannot help you if you do not ask! That is the way of magic.
But I am so terribly, terribly sorry not to be able to visit. I cannot possibly come to an infected area without most certainly losing my life. And I would do so in an instant for you, of course, but I cannot for my first duty is to the Queen as her Goblin Protector.
Ella put down the letter. Of course, Don Posiblemente had said the gas was lethal to pure Magicals.
I am afraid, to protect Magus, we had no choice but to seal the Mirrors of Foreverness as soon as we suspected the Scatterbungle had been unleashed.
We have been watching poor Posiblemente, Samuel and Wheelbarrow in the Waters. We saw you visit them. They are very sick. Only you, now, can save your people, with the Keys the Queen enchanted and those you choose to help you.
If this is the Third Prophecy coming into play, and we believe it is, you must learn to read between the lines, think higher than your highest self, and gather your team, for you have challenges ahead of you that will change the way of the world. So much so that I am afraid we may never meet again…
We are in your debt forever, Ella, and will guide you as we might from Magus. Do not forget the lessons of the Sacred Dewdrops for therein lies the essence of pure magic.
Yours truly,
Elton Wrinkles
Ella couldn’t believe it! She was stunned and stupefied. Panic filled her throat like a burning poultice. She was alone!?! Just like that?!? How could the Magicals not have followed up on how the Flitterwigs counteracted the poison? They invented it, didn’t they? How could she possibly know what to do without the Queen’s help, or Posiblemente’s? Or Thomas’s? Or anyone’s?
She had fought the Duke in the past and won. But she had always had those wiser and stronger than her to guide her on her way!
She laid the letter down in despair. Charlie gathered it up.
Ella turned to Charlie and Max, her hair swirling about her head. Her eyes glowed bright green. She was really a bit scary, especially to Max who was trying very hard to come to terms with the fact that he was standing with someone who could make people bigger and smaller, and someone who received letters from pure Magicals, from Magus itself! As he’d always suspected, this honey-haired girl was certainly more than just gorgeous and a brilliant skateboarder.
‘I can’t believe it,’ she said. ‘Who am I to turn to? I only just found out what Scatterbungle is. How am I supposed to know what the cure is from the little information I have? What in Magic’s name are we supposed to do?’
‘Perhaps Posiblemente, Samuel and Wheelbarrow will make it through. They are much more powerful, after all,’ said Charlie, hopefully. ‘Perhaps they’re better and on their way here right now.’
But he was wrong. As Elton Wrinkles had said, the situation was not terribly good for those most powerful Flitterwigs.
For, at this precise moment, Don Posiblemente was a shivering wreck, trying with all his might to see something, anything in the great wooden bowl that was his Waterway. And then he kept forgetting what he was doing and dipping his head in it! And as for the Files of which he was Keeper—they were sealed shut on his desk. He could no longer even get them to open a single page.
And Ms Wheelbarrow, the headmistress of Hedgeberry, a great Dryad Flitterwig, the centre of Flitterwig learning itself, was sitting by a tree in Don Posiblemente’s garden doing her best to understand a simple whisper from its olive branches. Not a single sigh could she comprehend. She cast out her arm, in an attempt to turn it to wood and wrap it around the tree, in order to bring herself closer to its natural state. Nothing. She hung her head and coughed miserably into her sleeve.
As for Samuel Happenstance, the most powerful Elven Flitterwig on Earth, he was unable to even travel back through the Waterways. His Portality powers were stricken completely. He moved to the top of the staircase in Don Posiblemente’s hall and tried to thrust elf dust over his shoulders at his wings, to compel them to fly him up and away. But it was no good. His Dust, his wings, his magic. All gone. They could not even leave by normal, human means for the house was sealed in a Dome of Inconspicuous Inconspicuation and they no longer had the combined power to crack it open.
If only Samuel could have known that the Troggles had been put in his pocket in the Slug & Lettuce, their sacks of Scatterbungle at the ready, their noxious little m
inds thinking of nothing but the sugar they had been promised in return for unleashing the dreadful gas far and wide. And now they were trapped in an unfindable, unknowable fortress on the Iberian peninsula, watching helplessly as four Troggles lay dying on the floor.
‘Yes!’ cried Ella. ‘Posiblemente and Wheelbarrow and Samuel! I can make them better by touching them! And then they will tell me what to do! I’ll go to them! You stay here and wait for Sam and Humph. Test the Keys on them. I’ll be back as soon as I can!’ Charlie flung himself after her, but Ella was gone, into the barrel, before his swift feet could cross the floor.
Almost as soon as Ella disappeared, Dixon re-emerged with Samantha and Humphrey.
‘That was the hardest magic ever, never, sever, forever!’ Dixon spluttered as Charlie helped him out of the barrel. ‘The Portals aren’t working properly, mopperly.’
Charlie held tightly to the pixie, protectively, and surveyed him carefully. Thirty seconds passed and Dixon was okay. He was protected by Charlie’s Key.
Humphrey heaved himself out of the barrel, followed by Samantha who fell head-first onto the floor, splashing water everywhere. ‘That was really scary,’ she said simply. ‘Something strange is going on in the world of magic, and I’m not sure I like it.’ She spotted Max and smiled sweetly at him. ‘What are you doing here?’ she asked.
‘What the?’ said Humphrey.
‘He’s part of our team,’ said Charlie. ‘He’s important. He’s wearing the fifth Key. The Keys protect people from Scatterbungle.’
Max almost blushed hearing Charlie say that. He’d never been called ‘important’ before. He looked at the odd bunch of Flitterwigs surrounding him. As much as he felt like he didn’t fit in with the other Salamanders, he’d never dreamed of hanging out with anyone but his own kind. This was certainly a topsy-turvy moment.
Samantha started to cough and Humphrey faltered on his feet. The Scatterbungle was getting them! Charlie looked into the glass box. He couldn’t see anything. How was he supposed to help his friends, if he couldn’t see or touch the Keys?
For now, he put his hands on both of his friends. Max did the same. Their touch seemed to ease the effects a little, but not enough. Humphrey kept sweating. Samantha swooned. Charlie moved the box closer to them.
‘Quick, Max,’ said Charlie. ‘Find some twine or something to try to string through the invisible Keys. Take Sam with you. I’ll stick with Humph.’ Dixon began to cough. ‘Oh gosh,’ said Charlie. What was he to do? What had Ella been thinking, leaving them here like this?
Max found some string in Wheelbarrow’s drawer. Some scissors too. But it was no good, they prodded and poked but they had no idea where they were prodding and poking!
And then there was a splash. It was Ella. She pulled herself out of the barrel.
‘The Waterways aren’t working,’ she managed, breathless with effort. ‘I was lost out there. I’m lucky I even made it back.’
Charlie glared at her. She looked at her friends and knew immediately why.
‘Oh I’m so sorry,’ she cried, reaching out and gathering Samantha and Humphrey in her arms. They began to rally at once. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said as Charlie plopped Dixon on her shoulder. He put his arms about her neck and lay in the recovery position. The full weight of how much rested on her shoulders hit her squarely in the gut there and then. She was the only one who could see the Keys. She was the only person who offered full protection from the Scatterbungle. A Key could obviously protect one person, and maybe a pixie close to the body, but not more. Not enough to keep them all safe.
Ella’s heart beat hard in her chest as she knelt down, keeping her friends close, and tried to loop string through the Keys. Max came up behind her and brushed her down with pussy willow to stop her dripping all over the floor.
Finally she managed to string two Keys. Charlie put one around Sam’s neck and one around Humph’s. Timidly, they stepped away from Ella.
Thirty seconds passed. A minute. A minute and a half. Two minutes.
They were okay! Protected! The Keys worked for Sam and Humph the same way they’d worked for Charlie! The same way Max’s worked for him!
Ella strung the last Key and put it over her own head. It repelled itself from her immediately, like a magnet in reverse. Only Ella could see it but the rest of them could see the string zip forwards through the air. Charlie pulled it carefully over Ella’s head and put it around his own. The string settled quietly. Ella scratched her head.
‘I guess you don’t need one,’ said Charlie.
‘I guess not,’ said Ella.
The Flitterwigs stood staring at each other, shaken but thrilled at their discovery. There was a horrible groaning noise from up above and then the smashing of objects crashing to the ground outside.
Charlie ran to the window. Tiles from Hedgeberry’s roof were tumbling down. They burned brightly, wrapped in magical fire.
A bough crashed to the ground outside. A wind had whipped up that made the foundations of Hedgeberry creak. Flitterwigs passed by the window chased by magical fires, wailing and weeping, not knowing where they were coming from or going to.
Ella marched back and forth, up and down Wheelbarrow’s office, trying to think. She had to find the magic inside her. Unleash all she holds within, whatever on Earth that meant. There was no time for panic now, no time for helping people one by one. She had to think big. She had to act fast.
chapter 17
letters & longing
Ella closed her eyes and tried to let the magic inside her come. Stop thinking, and feeeeel, as Mrs Howzatful would say. It welled up almost at once, like warm, deep succour. She opened her eyes.
‘My mother’s letter!’ she yelped, scrambling through her bag. ‘I totally forgot about it!’
‘And your mother’s diaries,’ Humphrey said solidly, looking up at her through his long fringe. ‘We’ve found some important stuff in them too.’
Charlie pulled the curtains to Wheelbarrow’s windows closed. They couldn’t block out the sounds of crashing and burning and groaning outside, but the less distraction the better right now. He looked at Ella. She was sitting down on the sofa and opening an envelope carefully. Sam and Humph joined him a little way away from her, to give her space.
Max was busy reading something that Humphrey had given him. It was a copy of an extract from Rosemary Montgomery’s diaries.
I think Ella’s in real danger. he read.
In case anything happens to me, I’ve stored important recollections of mine that Peter Pepper helped me Poof out. They’re in the Library of Memories, Box 24138. They must be important because the Library absorbed them as soon as I threw them at the door.
Max stared at the extract. Peter Pepper was an uncle of his.
What did this mean? Max decided he’d try and find out. He put the extract down and slipped silently out the door.
Humphrey and Charlie sat head-to-head over other copied extracts of the diary. ‘This must be important!’ yelled Charlie, reading aloud.
Keep having a dream about Scotland. One spot in particular. I’ve been there before. Turns into a nightmare and all I can remember when I wake up is that it has something very important to do with Ella.
Am travelling to Scotland on the 8th of June to investigate.
‘That’s the day after tomorrow,’ said Humphrey softly.
Ella sat in silence. She pulled open the envelope, hardly daring to breathe. A page of lavender paper came out, smelling of the fragile scent. She opened it with shaking hands. It was dated ten years ago.
My Darling Ella,
I am not sure how old you will be when you read this but I trust to Magic that it will reach you when you need it most. I know that if you receive this letter, that my fears today will be realised and I will be gone. Otherwise, I would have been there to tell you this important message in person.
Lately, I fear somehow for your life. In fact, ever since you were born, I have felt you to be watched and in imminent d
anger.
I wonder how much you will know about yourself by the time you read this? I must assume enough or this letter will make no sense.
Ella paused to catch her breath. Her heart thumped and tears caught in the corners of her eyes. She took a deep breath and continued reading.
As I write, you are only a few months away from your third birthday, and yet, today, you did something extraordinary.
Today you found me at Willow Farm, beyond the Dell where I knew I wouldn’t be seen, trying to fly. You see, I had an unforgettable accident when I was eight years old. I was learning how to fly at Hedgeberry and I fell out of a cloud. My Goblin Protector Alfie ran under the cloud in time to cushion my fall. He saved my life… but lost his own I’m afraid.
Ella put her hand up to her mouth and pushed back a cry of horror. The thought of something like that happening to Charlie was unthinkable.
I never wanted to fly again after that. I was too sad and too afraid. But I’ve been trying again recently, in case I need to get you out of danger in a hurry. Anyway, my darling, I’d had no success—couldn’t even lift myself off the ground—until today. When you saw me trying, you walked right up to me, your eyes flashing green, and you took both my hands and you asked me why I was scared of flying. I said nothing but you closed your eyes and when you opened them you said to me that it was okay to fly again. And you know what happened? All my fear went away, along with all my guilt, and my wings unfurled at once… and then I flew.
I do not know what will come to pass, but if anything happens to me, my love, I need you to know about this, for such a gift is remarkable and I feel you may need to use it one day.
Ella pulled her fingers through her long, long hair and kept reading.