Laura’s lips curved up into a smile at that. She thought Leo was nice, although she didn’t really know him, but to hear that he was so well respected among his students, was slightly more reassuring. She felt good knowing that he was on her side, helping look for her mother, ‘that’s very sweet, that you all admire him.’
Caspian blushed lightly, but shrugged it off, ‘yeah, well.’
She glanced sideways at him, ‘so what do the other of the Wicked do?’
‘Hmm?’ Caspian turned to her.
‘You said that the some of the Wicked try to wipe out the humans, what do the others try and do?’
‘Oh, a lot of the time they actually attack us. Try to anyway. As it always is, the evil and corrupt seek power, and what more power could you have than running the entire planet?’
The statement burnt itself into the back of her mind as her thoughts settled.
‘Of course we don’t let that happen because there are at least fifty Enchanted to each of their one Wicked, and they are poorly trained,’ Caspian added and she looked up from where her eyes had fallen to the floor, trying to absorb all she had learned.
Caspian continued, ‘I remember when I first found out I was a Wizard. There were so many questions I wanted to ask, so much I felt I didn’t know. The strangest part was, I had felt like I knew all there was to know; I thought I understood the world, and suddenly I was dragged into the Spirit World and I had to learn everything all over again.’
Laura let out a sigh, relieved that someone finally understood, ‘that is exactly how I feel.’ Her eyes flickered up at Mara Warlock, standing on the battlefield ‘my mother is a warlock.’
‘Yes, and she was a very powerful one before she left this world. But you are even more powerful than her.’
Laura turned to face Caspian, ‘I have never felt powerful. I have never used any ‘power’, how could I possibly be as great as everyone seems to think I am?’
‘We will teach you.’
‘And what ‘power’ do I have? Everyone keeps saying I’m so powerful, but what do they mean by powerful? What can I apparently do?’
Caspian frowned as a flash of something appeared on his face. Concern, Laura thought. But it was gone seconds later and he returned his gaze to her before answering, ‘I have to be honest, I don’t know what you are capable of. But believe me, it will be something extraordinary. I can feel it.’ He was grinning at her now.
Laura smiled back, unsure of how to respond. Suddenly, Laura realised something, and it terrified her.
‘The people who took my mother, the ones who want me, they hold the red light don’t they?’
Caspian nodded, ‘and we assume that’s why they want you. To try and turn you evil at heart before you turn eighteen. To make you Wicked.’
Laura glanced at the red light in Erebus’ hands.
‘I would never turn to their side.’
Later on, when Laura had left the library, seeking much needed sleep, she couldn’t help thinking about all she had learned. It seemed so unbelievable. So ridiculous. How could it all be true? It was crazy. They were crazy. The thought had indeed crossed her mind.
But what reason do they have to lie? She reasoned with herself.
Instead, she asked herself how could her mother have hidden it all from her? Surely she would have noticed if her mother had power. Or even herself! Yet she could not recall a single time when something out of the ordinary had happened.
A war was raging inside of her as she fought against her hope, her instincts and the facts. She couldn’t help but believe it was all true. Again, she asked herself, why would Caspian lie? Why would any of them?
Gemma entered the library to see Caspian staring up at the paintings that plastered the walls. Again.
‘Fraternizing with the enemy are we?’
‘She’s not the enemy, Gemma,’ Caspian said softly.
‘We don’t know that. She could be a spy, already corrupted by the other side. We have always had specific rules to abide by when allowing people into this manor, but she can waltz straight on in? I don’t like it. Estella and Leo are putting us all at risk.’
‘Didn’t you hear Stella? She and Leo were very close with the Harmers. They trust them and they trust Laura. And if they do, then I do,’ Caspian turned away from the wall to face her, ‘she just watched her father die in her arms and she was then brought to this place and introduced to a whole world she never knew existed. That’s a lot to try and comprehend. When you came to join the manor, were you put through the hell of constant meetings after what you had just been through?’
Gemma avoided making eye contact with Caspian.
‘Exactly,’ said Caspian.
They both fell silent.
Caspian sighed, ‘look I know you are worried, and I get it, but give her a chance. Like we all did for you.’
Gemma raised her eyes to Caspian’s and the edge of her vision was blurred by a memory. She recalled that dark, wintery night, when she had stumbled up the steps to the Grand Manor, covered in blood, terrified and in a state of shock after what she had just witnessed. She remembered Caspian’s kind face as he opened the door and, after gasping with surprise, his arms reached out and drew her into the warmth without a second thought.
She wrapped her arms around herself, hugging her body the way she had done that dreadful night, standing before Stella and Leo, replaying the horrifying events to them, and nodded, ‘I’ll try.’
Drew pulled the old, navy volume from its place upon the mantel. He crossed the room to his bed and settled by the lamplight.
Light flooded across the cover of his book and he opened to the first page, reading over the words. He needn’t read the words, really, for he knew them off by heart, but having them in front of him brought the memories of his mother, holding the book while he sat in her lap.
Closing his eyes, he hugged the book to his chest, repeating the words in a prayer to the Gods, and then closed it and sighed. He did this every night, yet not once had he received a response. Not once had he been given a sign. All he wanted to know was if they were proud.
Lowering his head he traced over the words that were indented in silver lettering across cover.
He wasn’t quick enough to stop the flicker of those beautiful gold-hazel eyes from appearing in his head. In seconds, he had pushed the image from his thoughts, refocusing them on his book.
‘I won’t forget,’ he whispered, and stood up, placing the book back in its place on the shelf.
Oliver was laughing, lifting up a little, bubbly three-year-old Laura and zigzagging her through the air like an aeroplane. Laura was squealing and laughing. He started to lower her down, putting on his best Pilot voice as he said, ‘prepare for landing.’
He placed Laura onto the ground and planted a big kiss on her forehead. She laughed and kissed her father back on the cheek.
‘You two are maniacs. I thought one Oliver was enough but now I have two!’
Little Laura ran to her mother’s arms. She was smiling, glowing a slight green. Little Laura didn’t notice, but the Laura that was dreaming it sure did. The other thing she noticed was the thick, black ‘W’ that was on her wrist.
Laura’s father gave a nod and in Laura’s mothers hand appeared a small glowing sphere, shining the colour of green. It grew bigger the way Leo’s had just hours before and it cast green flickering specks of light over the room.
‘When you remember this my dear, it is time,’ she whispered looking straight up at Laura as the little Laura disappeared ‘I only hope that time never comes. But if it has, then please know, my dear, that I love you, and I know you will do what is right.’
‘Mum?’ she murmured, ‘time for what?’
Suddenly it felt as if Laura was being dragged backwards by an invisible force and the scene before her was fading into the distance.
‘No!’ she screamed, thrashing about, trying to break free.
‘NO! Mum help!’
Laura woke up
screaming, tangled in her blanket. She sat straight up and pulled her legs into her stomach, wrapping her arms around them. She started to rock back and forth, attempting to calm herself. Beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks, but as she reached up to wipe them away, she realised that they were tears.
She rested her forehead on her knees and breathed in, then out, in, and then out again. Eventually she gained control of herself and laid back down in her bed.
Logan awoke in a hot sweat and sat upright in his bed. This happened too often. Realising it had been yet another dream, he ripped back the sheets and placed his feet to the cool hard wood floor. He stood and pulled the T-shirt that sat on his nightstand over his head.
He made his way out the door and down the hall to the kitchen. He took a glass from the cabinet and filled it from the tap. Turning away from the sink he leant his back against the counter and gulped from the glass. He often did this, allowing his mind to wander, hoping it would calm him from the terrors that invaded his dreams.
‘Another one?’ Grace asked as she entered the kitchen and took out a glass for herself.
‘Yeah,’ he exhaled heavily despite not needing the air, moving so Grace could use the tap.
‘Me too. I swear we all get more sleep in the day than during the night.’
‘Doesn’t surprise me,’ Logan said.
‘Sometimes I just wish that we hadn’t had to witness what we did. We were all too young. And they were our families. The people we loved.’
Logan nodded, finishing off his water and sitting his glass in the sink, ‘if only wishes could be granted.’
‘Yeah, if only,’ she retorted, ‘so what do you think of Laura?’
‘She seems nice. She reminds me of you a bit. When you first showed up. Strong and brave.’
Grace blushed, and Logan smiled as she said, ‘Gemma doesn’t trust her.’
‘Gemma has trouble trusting anyone. Remember how long it took before she would actually join us for a meal?’
‘Yeah,’ Grace grinned, ‘and on the first day she did Drew flung his peas across the room, hitting her square in the face.’
Logan laughed, ‘and she vowed to get him back when he least expected it.’
Grace began to laugh too, real laughter, ‘I suspect she’s biding her time, planning the perfect revenge.’ Their laughter died down and she sighed, ‘well I better get to bed. May as well try and sleep.’
‘Yeah me too,’ Logan smiled.
Grace bid him good night and left the kitchen. Logan waited for the door to close, and then lent back against the counter. He wouldn’t be getting any more sleep tonight, that much he knew.
Laura must have fallen asleep eventually because she found herself opening her eyes to the sound of chatter floating down the hallway. She rose from her bed and changed into a more comfortable and less tattered set of clothing that Stella had kindly left for her. She laced up her sneakers and headed for the door, making her way down the hall, seeking out the voices.
When she entered the dining room, she found everyone seated around an enormous oak table. The walls were bare and the ceiling was high, arching over the top of the dining table.
Leo and Stella were discussing something of importance, but Laura could see Stella smiling, so it must not have been anything too serious.
Drew and Caspian were erupting with laughter as they spoke loudly with one another.
Gemma and Grace were giggling and fussing over Logan’s hair, pushing it up, swishing it from side to side, and then braiding it, since it was, indeed, quite long.
They were all like a family. Like something that Laura no longer had. Feeling out of place, she quietly turned to leave the room.
‘Good morning Laura! Come, take a seat,’ she heard Stella call out.
She turned back to the table. Grace moved one seat down and patted the chair next to her as she smiled at Laura, urging her to come and sit down.
‘How are you this morning Laura?’ Leo asked her.
She could tell he was attempting to make her feel welcome, but everyone’s conversations had died once she had arrived, and she felt more out of place than ever.
‘Fine thank you,’ she replied as she reached for a slice of toast from one of the many platters of breakfast foods.
‘We were just discussing our plans for today. What would you like to do?’ Grace chirped.
‘I would like to assist in the search for my mother. I am feeling much stronger and think I could help a great deal.’
They all fell into an awkward silence.
‘Of course, a wonderful idea,’ Stella finally said, ‘we will contact someone from the station and inform them of your eagerness. I’m sure they will send someone over right away to interview you. That might be a nice start, don’t you think?’
‘Yes, that would be good,’ she said gratefully, and took a bite from her now buttered toast.
‘So, I was thinking it might be a good idea to begin training. Maybe try and catch you up a bit, teach you some skills in fighting, ease you in before Leo takes over. If you are up for it of course?’ Drew inquired, munching away at the last slice of toast that was on his plate.
‘Oh, Drew I don’t know. She has been through a lot.’ Stella quickly jumped in.
Laura gazed across the table at Drew and nodded slowly, ‘I think I’m up for it. Might be nice to be able to defend myself at least.’ And distract me. She added inwardly.
Her gaze darted to Stella’s, and while her own eyes were pleading, she sighed and gave a nod of her head.
‘It’s settled then. Meet me in the weapons room at 10,’ he said as he and Caspian rose from their seats, ‘we have our own training now, we’ll be down later to hand in the assignment,’ he directed his gaze at the head of the table and received a nod from both trainers.
Drew gave one last glance in Laura’s direction before the two of them left. She could hear their voices floating down the hallway, fading away slowly.
‘Are you sure you are up for training?’ Stella asked Laura, concerned, ‘your stitches will have dissolved but the injuries may still be sore.’
Stella was right, her injuries did still hurt a little, especially the cut on her arm, but after learning more of the people who had taken her mother, she felt sure that getting her back would require a fight, and she needed to know how to do just that if she wanted to win.
She gave Estella a confident smile, ‘of course I am. It can’t be too bad.’
Gemma snorted, ‘you won’t be saying that tomorrow.’
‘Gemma,’ Leo warned.
‘What do you mean?’ Laura frowned.
‘You have never trained with Drew. Trust me, wear a lot of padding, or at least do some stretches before you train,’ Logan said, his face completely serious, moving to leave the room to join the boys in practice.
Laura laughed, ‘okay I’ll keep that in mind.’
Later on when Laura was making her way down the corridor, she was suddenly stopped by Stella in the hallway.
‘Laura, here. Put this cream on your wounds again, just to make sure that they are healing. It’ll speed up the process.’
Laura frowned, wondering how a cream could make much of a difference. She took it and thanked Stella anyway, glancing up into her eyes. As she did so, she could see something within them that closely resembled regret.
‘What is it?’ Laura asked quickly, her stomach forming a knot.
‘I’m so sorry to have to ask this,’ she hesitated, ‘I know it’s all very hard for you at the moment, but you are the only person who can give consent to this. Leo and I need to inform the morgue of the funeral arrangements so they know what to do with your father.’
Laura didn’t flinch, ‘tell them we wait until my mother gets back.’
Stella paused, before nodding, ‘all right I will let them know.’
Laura gave a short, sharp nod before heading off towards the one place she had come to feel comfortable in; the library. She didn’t want that particular c
onversation to last longer then it needed to.
Chapter Five
Stay On Your Feet
Caspian ducked to the left, watching as the dagger whizzed past him. Sweat prickled the back of his neck, but there was no way he would give in.
‘You’ll have to do better than that!’ Caspian baited.
Drew was fast, the next knife soaring through the air before Caspian had a chance to blink. Caspian was on the floor, rolling across the floorboards and back up on his feed in seconds. The blade whirled overhead and clattered into the wall, landing on the ground with a number of thumps.
‘Come on, you were the one who said it was my turn, put some muscle into it!’
‘Why do you play this ridiculous game? One of you could be killed! Well, injured at least.’ Logan scoffed as he went about his safer version of target practice, sending three daggers sailing one after the other straight for the centre of the three bullseyes.
Drew grinned, twirling another dagger around in his hand as he and Caspian began circling one another.
Drew took action first, lunging forward to distract Caspian, then darting off to the right, taking a firm grasp of Caspian’s wrist and tugging it around behind his back.
‘All right, all right,’ Caspian said as the cool sharp metal of the blade bit into the skin of his neck. He did not attempt to break free. He knew Drew too well, and waited patiently for his moment.
‘What can I say?’ Drew said smugly.
That was Caspian’s move. Reaching up, he elbowed Drew in the gut, took a firm hold of his knife hand, spun out of his grasp and twisted the hand behind Drew’s back. He then pried the knife from Drew’s fingers and shoved it to his neck, grinning.
‘Touché,’ Drew said, swallowing against the metal.
‘Idiots,’ muttered Logan, despite the smile on his face.
Caspian let go of Drew and the two boys turned on Logan, who at that moment made the wise decision to leave before he was dragged into the fight.
They often did that; fought each other. It not only helped to strengthen their fighting techniques but they felt that it was good to keep one another on their toes. It helped to keep them fit and well trained, although they were all regarded as some of the highest trained students in the state, if not, the country, thanks to Leo’s experience.
The Enchantress (Wicked Book 1) Page 5