“AHH! Ahhhhhwwwwwwwoooo!” Hunter cried as the Demon ripped into him.
I jumped back against the wall. “HELP! HEEEEELP!” I called at the top of my lungs. Robin pulled the sheets off, and watched horrified, scrambling back against the wall. The awful gurgling screams from Hunter shot into every possible crevice. It seemed like an age before our calls of help were answered. Poor Hunter writhed around on the ground, the demon’s sharp black teeth like knives ripping through the air at every available space on his body.
Straker appeared, out of breath by the corridor entrance, flanked by another Magisteer. When he saw the mess his pallid face dropped like a penny in a well. He marched forcibly towards the demon, hands outstretched, saying something impossibly difficult. It began to crawl off Hunter, desperately trying to get away from Straker. But Hunter wasn't moving. The pool of blood touched my shoe and I had to turn away, the sight of it… Magisteer Dodaline crouched over Hunter then raised him above the ground, suspending him on an invisible bed.
“Get him to the Healer’s Room!” Straker cried waving his hands at the faceless Demon, which shrank back into the ground with a pop. Straker wiped his sweaty face as Dodaline ran off fast with Hunter floating next to her, hanging limp. It all happened so quickly. Robin was curled into a ball crying. I stood frozen to the wall, feeling like I was about to puke any second. I heard doors slowly open around us to see what was happening. With one click of Straker’s fingers all the doors shut and a lock clicked consecutively in each. Straker’s dark face turned to us. His voice soft as his eyes went from the huge pool of blood to me and Robin. “Who did this?”
No one spoke. Straker looked at Robin who’s eyes lifted. His hand outstretched and finger slowly uncurled… coming to point… at me.
I swallowed hard as Straker’s head swivelled. “What?” I said, my voice croaky. “Robin what are you talking about? You think I would, could, ever do that?”
Robin sobbed into his arm.
“Sir, it was Malakai Sir. I saw him, over there. It was him.” I had never seen Straker’s face say so much, and it wasn't good — he certainly did not believe me.
***
Everything that happened next seemed like a dream. It passed me by in some numb strange place where time sped up and I was just led along. Inside though, I was thinking how? why? To go from a stage where you are almost victorious, to being accused of attempting to murder somebody was too much for my mind to handle. Hunter’s gurgling screams echoing through every pore of my body, as Straker led me to a dark turret high up in the school, locking me behind a thick metal door.
After a few days I came back to earth. Perhaps when things get too hard, your mind goes on a little holiday?
I couldn't hear anyone, or see anything. My stuff from the dorm was in a bundle in the corner where Straker had dumped it. I suppose you could call the room a cell. There was no bed, just a kind of hard rug. There were no windows. The room was small and the roof pitched up into a cone shape, with lots of dark wooden rafters. The floor was cold and dusty and a draft seeped through the cracks round the bottom of the wall. I sat in the middle of the floor and didn’t move for three days. A plate of bread, cheese and water appeared three times a day in front of me. I didn’t eat it. I hated cheese. Anyway, I couldn’t eat.
Hunter had just been attacked and probably killed. And Robin thought it was me. Everyone now thought it was me. I didn’t want to think about it, I felt sorry for myself as I lay in the dirt. The only sound was the whistling wind and the scurry of one lone rat.
None of this made sense. I felt guilt, even though I hadn’t done anything, I felt pain, anger, despair and a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Why hadn’t Malakai attacked me? Did he mean to? And why did he attack Hunter? One minute, we were scaring the living daylights out of David Starlight and the Eagles pretending to be Malakai, the next minute the real Malakai turns up and… well, does the most awful thing imaginable.
And Robin accused me. For the last three days I was cursing him, but then, when I thought about it, that would be the accusation I would come to.
• I mentioned (as a joke) that we should set a demon on the Eagles after reading that awful book.
• He perhaps thought I was angry at Hunter for sneezing and messing up the plan.
• Robin and Hunter did not see or hear Malakai.
Yes, David Starlight and the Eagles had seen Malakai, but would they tell the truth? Or did he wipe their memories? I know my parents have done it before, so Malakai must be able to. The evidence was firmly stacked against me and I didn’t want to go to Magic jail.
***
A week later I was kind of settled in my dusty old turret, it reminded me of home. I hung my clothes on a low wooden rafter, turned my bedsheets into a half comfortable bed-come-nest and got on with some homework. It was hard to see, because the only light came from the cracks in the roof. Soon enough I had lost track of days and the passing of day to night, my circadian rhythms were proper messed up.
Then, after maybe a week, I was lying on the floor trying to peel back a roof slate to get more light in, when suddenly a shaft of glowing blue light lit up the room. I was puzzled, but when I turned I saw where the light was coming from. It was a ghost. It had just come up through the floor.
“Hello pal,” it said, cheery for a ghost but in a I feel sorry for you voice. “How you keeping?”
“Erm, fine.” I said, my voice croaky as I hadn’t spoke for a week.
“Good… for a week or so you and me are gonna do some work. Magisteer Partington sends his warmest regards and gave me some sheets from his classes that we can get on with…”
“Okay…” I said. “How’s Hunter?”
The ghost looked at me and smiled weakly. “He’ll be ok.”
“Ah, thank god!” I cried, unable to help tears welling up in my eyes. “I thought he was dead!”
“Well…” said the ghost, floating across and inspecting my raggy bed. “He was as good as dead for some time.”
I swallowed. “They do know it wasn’t me don’t they?”
He didn’t need to say anything, the look was enough — a sorry tilt of the head and a wry look away.
I found the ghost, who told me his name was Ernie, pleasurable and handy as I now had enough light to work with. It was like having a full moon sitting cross legged opposite me. His features were very defined, he was a young ghost, perhaps early twenties, dressed in a smart suit with a smooth, kind face, longish fair hair tucked behind his ears and a warm, likeable personality, which is strange for a ghost - most of the ones I’d met were horrible. Everyday Ernie woke me up at 7am sharp and brought handfuls of work sheets to go through that Partington had sent up. And… he sneaked me some food from the Chamber! Each day became an excitement, to see what luxury he would bring me.
After a few days I got so used to him being there and didn’t want him to go. I was nibbling on a butter candy cake, and he was reading my notes back to me about Hexes and Wolves, as I was wondering about everyone back in the school. What were they doing? Would I ever see them again?
“Does everyone in the school think it was me?” I said.
“And the Hex… What?” said Ernie peering over my essay, then sighing. “I am sure that… the truth will come out in the end,” he said diplomatically then carried on reading my essay. They were probably burning an effigy of me right now, led by my brother Ross. Mind you he and my family had finally got their wish. I had finally done something catastrophically evil.
A few days later and Ernie appeared looking immensely cheerful. “You are allowed out!” he called. “Someone will be up in about…” he looked down and through the floor. “… ten minutes!”
“Allowed out?” I said feeling a huge sense of dread. I had got so used to this little room that I was comfortable here now. “But, but…”
“It’s ok,” said Ernie bobbing up and down. “The Lily is obviously not convinced that it was you, that’s why he’s letting
you out.”
“The Lily?” I mumbled. “But what about Hunter? Is he ok?”
“He’s awake in the Healer’s Room, but I wouldn’t go there just yet, not until everything is smoothed over.”
“No, yeah,” I said. “And am I going back to lessons? Back to my form?”
Ernie laughed. “Don’t make yourself so stressed about things that might not happen kiddo. Let’s see what the man says. See ya around,” he winked.
“Wait! Will I see you again?”
Ernie’s head floated just above the floor. “Of course!” he laughed before vanishing.
Ernie was right, just ten minutes later the door opened. The tall frightening Magisteer stared down at me with distain. I’d heard about her - Magisteer Simone, the Lily’s assistant. I’d heard people refer to her as Scary Simone. She was about seven foot, with a tight bun of hair fastened to her head, an angry leathery face and only one bristly eyebrow.
“Well hello Avis Blackthorn, proving to live up to your family’s name at last?”
I didn’t bother trying to tell her I was innocent. So I just weakly agreed. “Yeah…”
“On order of the Lily you are being allowed out, however you will not return to your dorm, this is your room now. You will return to lessons, but only with the ghosts in the East Dungeon’s. However, you are free to do as you please in the school again…” she spat the last sentence as if it pained her to say it. Obviously she would have me locked up here forever, innocent or not.
I was worried that having my freedom back would cause people to, I don’t know, come and get me. Magisteer Simone held her hand out. On it, was a tiny shrivelled head on a string.
“You will be accompanied by a Shrunken Head to protect you from Spells, Hexes, Curses and bullish behaviour from others while we ascertain what really happened…” She chucked the head to me. It was small, with flaky skin and rough hair, it’s eyes and mouth sealed by thread. “Put it round your neck, then make your way down to Lunch.” This had to go round my neck? Ergh.
“What happens?” I said. “If someone does attack me or whatever?” I saw her smile as if imagining it.
“You’re a Blackthorn? And you don’t know about Shrunken Heads? Dear, oh dear…” she tutted and vanished from the room leaving me standing, stranded in a prison cell I didn’t want to leave.
I put the horrible Shrunken Head around my neck. It hung limp for a bit, then the thread in its eyes and mouth disappeared with a poof. It groaned and began mumbling strange words to itself. The string around my neck disappeared in a short blaze of orange as the head floated up just behind my left shoulder, where it stayed muttering to itself.
“Hello?” I said. But it ignored me, eyes shut.
I felt like a newborn animal tip toeing into the dangerous jungle for the first time. I discovered how far up in the tower I was. All I could see through the thin slitted windows around the staircase was dark clouds and mist. But also it took ten minutes to walk down all the stairs and make it back, finally, to the main school again. The Shrunken Head bobbed along next to me, awkwardly. I felt naked, hoping no one would see me as I scurried along the corridors, blinking at the immensely bright light that stung my eyes.
I was in the main building now, with all its glorious, garish portraits lining the walls, and long tapestries hanging down like dirty waterfalls. My eyes had been so used to darkness and nothing, that they buzzed and were very sore. I desperately needed a shower too. I hadn’t changed my clothes in a week. Then I saw people, up ahead, in plain clothes (it must have been Sunday) milling around in the corridors. There were three boys in dark red robes from the second year, who were playing some Magical card game. I scuttled past them as quickly as possible. When they looked up and saw me, they cowered back against the wall, eyes following me as if I was Malakai himself.
It wasn’t far to the Chamber, but it felt like I was running some emotional marathon. I entered the hall with trepidation, for I could hear lots of voices. I kept my head low as possible, avoiding the eyes that now fell on me. After ten steps or so, I felt the conversation change as group by group, person by person, they saw me. Hushed whispers now reverberated around me. I didn’t look up, didn’t say anything, I just kept moving and moving quickly. The solitude and lack of noise had caused the whispers to sound like shouts. All around me, hisses and spits split my ears with accusations.
Here comes the boy who raises demons. Who attacks his friends. Who nearly killed a boy. Who pretends to be an evil Wizard. Well he is a Blackthorn! Why is he still in the school? How can he stand there knowing what he did?! To one of his own form!
Well I didn’t!
I was relived to finally be standing in front of the Chamber doors to escape the whispers. Thankfully, the Chamber was not very full, a smattering of people eating, some doing homework with a few Magisteers at their table. All, however, noticed me when I walked in. Everyone stopped talking. Magisteer Dodaline who had taken Hunter to the Healer’s room looked affronted. Others looked terrified and began scribbling away at their homework, amongst dropped glances of barely concealed contempt.
I could see the accusations in their eyes, they thought I did it. I was so hungry I dived for the food. And ate my first proper meal for weeks, the bobbing head beside me silent and watching. It felt like more of a beacon than a helpful tool to stop me becoming a victim of vengeance.
***
Over the coming month, things didn’t change much. Hunter left the Healer’s room and went home for a few weeks. When he returned, the whole Chamber burst into a tumultuous roar, one by one they shook his hand and stroked his scars which were horrific. He seemed pleased with them. I was sitting at a table on my own, in a shadowy corner of the Chamber. I didn’t know how he would respond to me, so I stayed where I was.
I found out the hard way that I wasn’t allowed anywhere near my dorm, Partington’s classroom or the Eagles dorm, as a barrage of ghosts would appear, hurling abuse at me if I stepped one foot over their invisible boundaries. That really had scared the living daylights out of me.
I returned to my new favourite place, the clock tower. It was set up high in the spire. And no one came up here, ever, they couldn’t anyway. I only found it by accident when having a hunt around near the dark turret room. Both clock faces are see-through so I can see everything that happens from both sides of the courtyard and the gardens. It’s weird watching people because I get sad that I can’t join them. I found it hidden behind a large tapestry in one of the long corridors near my turret. The first night I sat still listening to the satisfying clicks of the metal clockwork and watching the sun setting over the horizon. Then I couldn’t stand going back to the small, dank turret, so I collected all my stuff and moved into the clock tower. At least here I had a view, some light and no Magisteers coming to check up on me every other day unannounced. I mean, it wasn’t perfect, the bells rang deafening loud at certain times, there was a flock of pigeons up in the rafters that pooed all the time and it was incredibly dusty, but it sure felt homely.
Things moved slowly on the ‘innocent campaign’ however. I decided, through a motivational talk from Ernie who pops by each day, that I should do my best to clear my name. Seeing as no one else was prepared to do anything about it. I had not heard anything, except a rumour from Ernie that the Lily was waiting for Hunter to be completely better before asking him what happened. Straker had already been having long discussions with apparent witnesses. For definite I knew he must have spoken to: Robin, David Starlight including Straker’s own form… so if they told the truth, surely Straker would have to profess my innocence?
But as yet, I heard nothing.
Spurred on however by Ernie’s motivation that I would clear my name, I attempted to speak to Robin.
It was lunch about two weeks ago. I saw him sitting with the Condor boys, he and Graham were talking about something, I couldn’t hear what. I walked over slowly and sat next to him. When he saw me, he nearly jumped into the air.
“I just
want to talk…” I whispered.
“I don’t… don’t wanna talk to you!” he said trembling, loud enough for the whole Chamber to hear.
Five third years in orange robes near us stood and eyed me up. The Shrunken Head on my shoulder eyeing them back. I stood and sighed as eyes all around the Chamber followed the proceedings.
“You really think,” I whispered. “That I, would do that to Hunter? I am telling you it was… him…”
“You’re not right in the head,” said Robin tapping his temple. “I saw you.”
“Right come on,” said the fifth year. “Leave now.”
“I just wanted to…” more people around me on tables stood now, their hands ready to Spell. What did they think I was? “Fine, fine…” I managed.
That was as far as I got. I left the Chamber and returned to the Clock tower where I stayed.
Tina’s face floated through my dreams constantly. She had probably forgotten all about me, or thought I was a nasty disease like all the others. I wondered how far she’d got with her quest. I still didn’t know what it was about. As I lay in the dusty clock tower, moonlight shining in through the large oval face, I lay wondering about what she was doing right now. Perhaps she was in the Library looking for that book. Who knows, perhaps Robin was helping her.
Lessons with the ghosts were so boring. I had two teachers, three if you included Ernie. Magisteer Hungerford, who was a right evil cow, stuck up and with an attitude problem of some sort because she wouldn’t let me answer anything, just droned on asking rhetorical questions. It was really annoying.
Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! Page 10