Charmed

by J. A. Armitage

  It was so nice to be back in a comfortable home. Alan and Jeannie couldn’t be more accommodating. After a home-cooked meal and a long hot bath, we all sat down in their cozy living room to get each other up to speed.

  I’d been right about the farmer’s permits. As of three days ago, no one except Luca himself was allowed to cross any of the borders into or out of Silverwood.

  “I think he’s cracking up personally,” said Jeannie. “The news from the city is that everyone is fighting. Not that the newspapers are reporting that. They are trying to cover it all up. All they ever print these days is news about the royal wedding and coronation. There’s nothing of any value in any of them anymore. I have to say I miss the Charm Chronicle.”

  “We’ve not heard any real news for days,” agreed Alan. “Even the TV stations are full of reports about what Ms. Bloom will be wearing on her wedding day and what food they’ll be eating at the reception. I mean, who cares?”

  “I don’t know,” replied Jeannie coyly. “I’m quite enjoying it. Seeing how the other half live. I know it’s a diversion tactic to keep eyes away from all the problems in the capital, but it’s fun all the same.”

  I sighed. The royal wedding was getting so close. Only three weeks away. That meant the coronation wasn’t far behind and then... and then the execution of my dearest friends. The paper had only mentioned the ones that had been printing the Chronicle, but why would he stop there? There was nothing to gain by him keeping the ones in the police cells alive. They were only alive now because he was hoping that I’d try and get to them.

  “Can we watch it?” I asked, pointing at the TV in the corner. Jeannie seemed surprised by request but turned it on all the same.

  It was weird watching the news about Luca’s wedding. It hadn’t been that long ago that I was at one of Luca’s weddings. Watching it brought back horrible memories of that day. I probably shouldn’t be watching it, but I had to see what was happening.

  Alan passed me a beer as I took in all the details of the royal day. They’d booked the same cathedral, hired the same bands, and even picked the same caterers.

  I almost choked on my beer when I saw Xavi on the screen giving an interview about the bride-to-be’s makeup.

  I cheered when she announced to the world that she’d have to use much thicker makeup on Drusilla because her skin wasn’t as clear as mine. Seconds after she announced this, she was quickly cut off to be replaced by a segment on the wedding color scheme.

  Something vibrated. Seconds later, Cynder threw the talk stone to me. As I read the three words, my heart flew into my mouth.

  Elise in labor

  I stood up quickly, spilling beer all over the floor.

  “What’s the matter?” asked Cynder in concern.

  “We have to get into the capital. Elise is having her baby.”

  Cynder stood up and took the talk stone from me as though he didn’t quite believe what it said.

  He took my hands in his. In a soft voice, he replied. “We can’t go into the capital. You know that. Even with Luca out of the kingdom, his men will still be on guard. Word that we crossed the border back into Silverwood on a black horse will have already gotten around. We won’t be able to do that again. The only reason they didn’t shoot us last time was because I used a shield spell. This time they’ll be ready to follow us.”

  “None of that matters. I already know how to get in, and we won’t need any horses or any spells.”

  Amazing Grace

  “Where are we going?” asked Cynder as we jogged down the country lane. We’d said a hurried goodbye to Jeannie and Alan and left the farmhouse in a hurry.

  “Luca is copying our last wedding. Either he’s extremely unimaginative, or Drusilla wants it to be exactly the same, but they are using all the same contractors.”

  Cynder huffed beside me. “So?”

  “So, the caterers we used for my wedding have their headquarters about a mile from here. I visited it once for a cake tasting with my mother and Jenny. Wouldn’t Drusilla want to sample cake too? You might think that no one is allowed into the capital, but if they are delivering items for the royal wedding, who is going to stop them?”

  Cynder was quiet for a second as he took in what I was saying. “You are a genius!”

  “Maybe,” I replied. “We still have to break into the caterer’s building, steal a couple of uniforms plus something to deliver. Then we have to persuade the guards at the roadblocks that nine o’clock at night is a perfectly normal time to deliver food.”

  The building that housed the catering business was a drab grey industrial block. Its dull exterior hiding the delicious food they made within.

  At the front was a small window with some cakes to show their wares to the public.

  The building itself was pretty simple to break into. A quick wave of Cynder’s wand and the lock opened. Inside, the lights were off but I could just about make out the industrial-sized mixing machines thanks to a streetlight outside.

  “Through here,” I whispered, remembering exactly where the spare white cloaks with the company logo embroidered on them were kept. I’d had to wear one the last time thanks to health and safety regulations. We took a couple of cloaks, and as we left, I grabbed a couple of the fancy display cakes.

  I could feel my heart beating wildly as we walked up to the roadblock at the entrance to the city.

  “City Catering, here to deliver some cakes for the wedding,” I said to the guard. I tried to keep my voice airy and light as if it was normal to be delivering cakes at night.

  “No one can go through here. The king’s orders.”

  I fought the urge to tell the stupid man that Luca wasn’t the king yet, but I held my tongue.

  I pulled myself up to my full height and took a deep breath.

  “Lady Bloom is having a cake crisis and asked us to deliver these tonight as a matter of urgency.”

  “She can’t decide between chocolate fudge or red velvet for the cake,” added Cynder.

  “The cake has already been chosen for the wedding,” replied the guard uncertainly.

  “And now Lady Bloom isn’t sure if it’s right,” I replied with authority. “Now, if you want I can go back to the bakery and tell my superiors to contact King Luca to let him know why his bride-to-be isn’t getting the right cake, or you can let me take these cakes to her. Which is it going to be?”

  The guard thought for a second, no doubt caught between disobeying his boss’s direct order or upsetting his boss’s fiancée which in turn would upset him more. I almost felt sorry for the guard as he waved us through.

  Once in the city, we ditched the cakes and ran, keeping an eye out for more of Luca’s guards. They seemed to be on every street corner. Getting to the police station was tricky. Thanks to the curfew, the streets were empty, so we had to be careful not to be seen. Getting there involved taking a circuitous route, taking us much longer than it should have. Even though the streets were empty, the reception desk at the police station was busy. I fought through the throng of people to get to the policeman on duty.

  He was in the middle of an argument with one of Luca’s guards. I trusted Cynder’s mask spell for them not to recognize me and stood patiently behind them, listening in to their conversation.

  “I’ve told you,” began the policeman. “The cells are full. We are already doubled and tripled up. There’s no more space.”

  Luca’s guard huffed. “You are going to have to find some then. This guy was out after ten.”

  “Yeah, him and a hundred others. What do you think all these people are here for? It’s the same every night. Take the guy home and give him a slap on the wrist.”

  “I was just walking my dog!” the man in handcuffs protested.

  “Shut up you,” cried the guard, kneeing him roughly in the back.

  “I’ll speak to the king about this,” growled the guard, taking his prisoner away.

  “You do that!” shouted the policeman after him. “Next!�
��

  He was surprised to see someone not in handcuffs.

  “I’m here to see Jason Copper please,” I asked quietly. So far none of the other of Luca’s guards had noticed me. They were all busy with their own captives.

  The policeman at the reception desk raised a brow.

  “And who can I say is looking for him?”

  I hesitated. I didn’t recognize this man. Copper had told me that a lot of his men were still devoted to the queen, but things had changed a lot since I’d last been here and I wasn’t sure who I could trust.

  “It’s urgent,” I hissed. “Just tell him that a friend wishes to speak to him. He has my sister.”

  I hoped that was enough for Copper to know it was me. I needed him to come for me quickly because it wasn’t going to be long before one of Luca’s guards noticed I was also there out of curfew.

  “Sergeant Copper doesn’t have time to speak to friends at the moment. He’s currently dealing with an emergency and has asked not to be disrupted. Our new chief inspector, might be available if you’d like me to speak to him?” Damn. I’d forgotten someone else was in charge now. Jason had been demoted to Sergeant.

  “No!” I backed off and pulled Cynder into a corner.

  “I can’t get to him!” I cried, putting my head in my hands. Somewhere in the cells below me, Elise was giving birth. I needed to be with her.

  Cynder didn’t say anything to comfort me. I looked up. He was busy scribbling something on the talk stone.

  “The talk stone!” I whispered excitedly. Why hadn’t I thought of that?

  I craned my neck to see Copper’s response.

  Elise taken to hospital. She’s in a really bad way. I’m sorry. JC

  I’m sorry he’d said. I’m sorry. Didn’t people only say that when there was no hope left? The last time I’d seen Elise, she looked deathly ill, and that had been months ago. I cried silently, despair filling me.

  “I shouldn’t have left her!” I said as Cynder hurried me out of the station. Throughout my childhood whenever I’d been ill, a physician had come to the palace to see me, but I knew there was a hospital in town. I’d been there once to give a speech. I turned into a street that I knew headed towards the hospital.

  “Where are you going?” hissed Cynder, grabbing my arm to stop me.

  I frowned. “The hospital.” Where else would I be going?

  “We can’t. Luca’s men will be swarming the place.”

  I glared at him. “We have to go. You saw what Copper said. What if she dies?”

  “If we go there, we will get caught, and we will die! How do you even know that it was Copper that sent that last message? Maybe one of Luca’s men found the talk stone and is now luring you into a trap like they did before with Seraphia’s talk stone?”

  “I don’t know,” I replied, ripping my arm from his hand. “And I don’t even care anymore. This is Elise we are talking about. She needs me.”

  “No, Charm. She doesn’t need you right now. I’m sorry but what she needs is the best hospital care with the best doctors. She needs Leo by her side.”

  Tears began to prickle at the corner of my eyes. “If I was you, and it was me in the hospital. What would you do?”

  He closed his eyes and shook his head resigned. “I’d do anything to see you.” His voice was quiet. I waited until he looked back up at me.

  “So, well then, maybe you are right when you say Elise doesn’t need me right now, but I need her.”

  I was struggling with keeping it together. The last few days had exhausted us both, and I was emotionally near rock bottom. The tears began to fall. Cynder drew his thumb up my cheek, wiping the tear away before pulling me into a hug.

  “Come on, let’s go.”

  The hospital was only a couple of streets away, so getting there was relatively easy.

  Remnants of the Charm Chronicle still clung to walls and posts, now faded and half worn away by the weather. The snow had begun to fall again, but this time instead of a light shower, it was coming down thick. By dawn, there would be a carpet of white covering Silverwood’s capital.

  Our tracks could already be seen behind us in the snow, but they would soon cover over.

  The hospital entrance had a reception and a waiting area. I hurriedly glanced around, but apart from a young girl with long flowing blonde hair, who was checking her watch and a young boy with a grazed head, sitting with his mother, there was no one there.

  “No guards!” I noticed.

  “Yeah, and that’s what worries me. Don’t you think this is too easy?”

  He had a point. If Elise was brought here, there was no doubt in my mind that Luca would have been contacted about it. Even if he hadn’t and was still on his way to his parent’s house, his guards wouldn’t have let Elise leave the cells alone, not even in an ambulance.

  Instead of speaking to the receptionist, I nodded to the sign that said maternity and followed it.

  Each step closer to the maternity ward felt like one step closer to danger. I wasn’t sure if I was more scared of what I’d find when I got there or being caught before I did.

  At the end of the corridor was a set of double doors.

  “Still no guards!” I said under my breath. I hesitated before opening them. The ward was small with a birthing suite to the left side and a ward with four beds to the right. I turned left as Cynder grabbed hold of my sleeve. I turned to see why he was stopping me. And that’s when I saw it. The most beautiful sight I’d ever seen.

  “Elise!” I cried, running over to her bed. She looked frail and tired but so, so happy. Beside her bed sat Leo and at the other side Jason Copper. In her arms, she held the cutest little thing I’d ever seen.

  I couldn’t help myself. I burst into tears.

  Copper stood up and rushed over, ready to push me back.

  “Jason, it’s me.”

  He recognized my voice immediately. “Charmaine?”

  I nodded as Elise looked up.

  “Charmaine?” she echoed.

  “Cynder transformed my face, but it’s me,” I sobbed “You’re alright?”

  Elise began to cry too. Happy tears. “I’m fine. The doctors saved me. They said that now that I’ve had the baby I’ll get better all on my own. I have to stay here for a few days, but anything’s better than those cells.” She passed the little bundle to me. My heart blossomed as I looked down into the most perfect face of my new niece. She slept, completely unaware of the emotions swirling around her.

  Leo stood up and hugged me carefully avoiding the baby.

  “What have you named her?” I asked, my voice little more than a whisper.

  Elise smiled through her tears. “Grace.”

  Grace. It was perfect. I gave her a quick kiss on the nose and handed her to Leo.

  “Congratulations, Elise, Leo.” Cynder stepped forward and shook Leo’s hand. “Chief Inspector, are there any other guards here?”

  “No. I was allowed to bring Elise and Leo here. I’m supposed to keep an eye on them and take them back to the cells when the hospital discharges them.”

  “Don’t you think that’s strange?”

  Copper nodded. He took a quick look at Elise before pulling Cynder and me to one side and lowering his voice.

  “I do. At first, I was only concerned about Elise. She was so sick; it’s a miracle she’s still alive. After she got the all clear, I began to wonder why no other guards had turned up. I hate to say this to you, but I think you should go before it’s too late. I’ll keep you updated on Elise’s condition, but the doctors think she’ll make a complete recovery.”

  I’d never felt such relief in my life. I ran over to Elise and kissed her. Leaving her now was going to break my heart but every second I was there brought Elise and baby Grace closer to danger. If Luca found me, he’d have no need for her anymore.

  “I’ll find a way to finish this!” I said loudly enough for them all to hear.

  Cynder took my hand as I wiped away the tears tha
t were now freefalling down my face.

  I’d composed myself completely as we got back to the hospital reception area. It was still relatively quiet although a few more people had turned up.

  Cynder and I walked quickly across the floor to the main entrance. We’d just walked through the doors when I heard a voice boom out.

  “She’s there! Get her!”

  I knew that voice. I knew it well. It was Luca.

  The Announcement

  My body went rigid in fear. I felt my heart rate elevate as a couple of guards came out of nowhere and ran towards us, their guns raised in the air as they ran.

  I felt Cynder try to pull me away, but I couldn’t move. There was nowhere to run. The guards were in front of us, Luca was behind us. He’d done it again. He’d recognized me despite the mask. When would I learn?

  The guards came closer and closer. Behind me, I could hear Luca shouting ‘Now, now, now!’ He sounded almost delirious. Maybe he was. He was finally getting what he wanted, and I knew that this time there would be no escape. They’d made the mistake of not taking Cynder’s wand from him last time. They wouldn’t make it again. Seraphia was already at Luca’s house. She wouldn’t be able to help me this time. Of course, there were always Luca’s parents. Would King Theron and Queen Sarina come to Silverwood after everything I’d told them? Would they be suspicious when Luca didn’t turn up at their castle like he said he would? My gut feeling told me that they wouldn’t. Luca would have made up an excuse. He’d be convincing too. He’d have an answer to all their questions, a plausible answer. Cynder yanked on my hand much more roughly now, but it was too late. The guards were almost upon us. I closed my eyes and gave in to the inevitable.

  Seconds later, I heard the guards thundering past. I opened my eyes and swiveled my head just in time to see them grabbing the young girl I’d spotted at reception earlier. The girl with the long blonde hair.

  She let out a scream as Luca stalked over to her. Upon seeing who it was, she became immediately quiet.

  Cynder pulled on my hand again, and this time I let him. We walked slowly away from them, afraid that if we ran, we’d bring attention to ourselves. Once we were out of sight of the hospital, we pelted full pace, not stopping until we were back at the Royal Palace. I slammed the basement door shut and bent over breathlessly.