Paul cupped Dreamer’s face in his beautiful hand, staring at her.
“Dreamer.” She didn’t react. “Little one… wake up.”
Her eyes flickered, then opened. Agnes screamed again.
Dreamer stared at her father through jet black eyes, Paul staring back.
“P-Papa…”
“Shh,” he said gently, as black tears fell down her face. “I’m here now.”
He stroked the rope with one finger, the rope crumbling before him. Holding Dreamer to him, he freed his wife.
“Agnes. You look beautiful.”
“Where have you been?” Agnes said furiously, as Dreamer sobbed into his shoulder. “Your child needed you more than ten times in the past-”
“Hush,” Paul commanded softly, and Agnes fell silent. “Hold her.”
He let Dreamer go, Agnes catching her as she fell.
Paul turned at looked around the empty stadium, amused at how quickly the crowd had evaporated.
“Hmm… they didn’t even get to feel my wrath.”
Agnes held Dreamer tightly, whispering into her ear as he spoke.
Paul Black towered above them, looking no older than thirty years old. Agnes indeed looked the same as she watched him look down at the bags of popcorn and hot dogs disgustedly, then he said “It’s revolting. They actually would have watched you die without a second thought, carried on with their lives- perhaps even have gone to work afterwards. I will never understand why the mortals hate us so much, Agnes. Never.”
“They fear us,” Agnes replied softly, black patches on her grey robe. Paul remembered his child, pulling her out of Agnes’s grasp.
“Dreamer, look at me.”
She appeared not to have heard him, Paul repeating himself firmly.
“Look at me, little one.”
Dreamer lifted her head, Pandora, Marlon and Ted cautiously climbing the platform. They stopped when they caught sight of their mother’s face, then they ran over desperately.
“What happened to her?!”
“Be quiet,” Paul said, glaring at them. “It will go away.”
“Are you sure?”
Paul decided not to answer that. If he said it will go away, then it will. He didn’t feel the need to comfort and reassure them.
Ted watched him put his index under his daughter’s chin and tilt her head up, saying “Repeat after me, little one. I will be fine.”
Dreamer opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Agnes took her hand, saying “I will be fine, Dreamer.”
“I- I will be fine…”
“Nothing can hurt me,” Paul said gently, Dreamer swallowing as she looked at the stake she was tied to. Then she said “Nothing can hurt me.”
Paul made her repeat similar lines, Pandora watching in awe as her mother’s eyes lightened, the black tears ceasing as she spoke. Soon Paul was staring down into his own eyes it felt like, dark green and beautiful.
“There,” smiled Paul, and Dreamer smiled uncertainly. Then the smile faded away as she looked at her father, saying “Don’t leave me again.”
“I wont,” Paul said gently, as her eyes filled. “I wont ever again. I promise.”
“I don’t want to stay here. I’m coming with you, wherever you’re going.”
Paul was pleased, because he said “Now that saves an argument, because I was going to take you without your consent.”
Dreamer smiled, everyone’s hearts racing as they looked at her.
She was going again?
“Dreamer,” said Ted desperately. “You cant- you wont go?”
That’s when Dreamer remembered her family. They was gazing at her earnestly, begging her with their eyes not to go.
“For a small while,” Agnes told them gently. “You’ll have her back.”
Pandora didn’t believe that, looking at her brother. He thought the same thing, but he shook his head. Grandfather or not, this was Paul Black. The last thing they wanted to do was anger the sorcerer.
Ted thought the same thing, because he stepped back in defeat. Then he said “How long is a small while?”
“I have issues to sort out with my daughter,” Paul replied, looking at him thoughtfully. The boy really did love Dreamer more than anything. “What I want you to do is stay strong, Ted. For your children’s sake.”
Ted looked at Pandora and Marlon, then he asked “What issues?”
“That I cant tell you.”
“My parents?” asked Ted desperately. “I forgive you. It was an accident, I know it was- she doesn’t have to go-”
Paul smiled and shook his head. “It’s not about your parents, Ted.”
“Then-”
“Dad,” said Marlon and Pandora at the same time, making him stop short. “Listen to him, ok?”
“Smart children,” smiled Paul, but before they could look at him he vanished, along with his wife and child.
* * *
Dreamer stared up at the fortress, amazed.
“It looks like our first house!”
“It is our first house,” Paul replied amusedly. “Let’s go inside.”
* * *
Pandora and Marlon both held their sides, furious. Home was still miles away… and they both decided they hated their grandfather.
“He acts like he owns the planet! He cant just take her away from us!”
“Calm down,” said Ted wearily, stomach gnawing. He didn’t have his wallet on him, so he couldn’t buy the kids something to eat. He didn’t know how long it would take for them to get home either.
Pandora and Marlon glared at him.
“You should’ve told Paul she wasn’t going anywhere, Dad!”
“Didn’t you hear her? She said she wanted to go with him!”
“Then you should’ve told her she wasn’t going anywhere!”
“And get blasted by Paul for ordering his daughter about?” Ted laughed bitterly. “I didn’t have a choice in the matter, and neither did you.”
Pandora and Marlon scowled at him, closing their mouths. They trudged on in silence, the cold wind blowing mercilessly.
Pandora shivered, then she scowled. “This is so embarrassing- we’re in our pyjamas! And I swear we’re not even halfway-”
Miriam’s jaw dropped as she drove, then she slammed her fist on her car horn. Ted and his kids whipped round, staring as she pulled over.
“Miriam!” breathed Pandora, relieved as they ran to the car. “Hi!”
“Get in,” she said, leaning over and opening the passenger door for Ted. Marlon and Pandora got in the back, thankful for her arrival.
“I’m so glad you’re my godmother,” said Pandora, rubbing her arms to get warm. Miriam looked back at her with a smile, saying “Even if I wasn’t I’d have told you to get in, silly.”
“Not really, because loads we knew drove past us-”
“Including James,” spat Marlon, but Pandora said “Come on Marlon, he was with his mother. He wasn’t driving, was he?”
“Ok, fine. But he still could’ve told his mother he wasn’t coming!”
“I know,” Pandora said, looking out the window as Miriam pulled away. Miriam watched her through the rear-view mirror, knowing the girl had a crush on James. Had anything happened between them since their last talk? She’d have to find out another time.
“Miriam, I cant thank you enough,” Ted said, as Miriam turned up her heater for them. “We would’ve either starved or frozen to death.”
“I cant believe nobody helped you,” said Miriam angrily, stopping at a traffic light. “How can they be so cruel? Especially to Dreamer!”
“It’s because she’s a witch,” Ted answered bitterly. “She cant change who she is, Miriam. I know some of them didn’t want this to happen, I can tell. Some people weren’t cheering, just standing there looking sick. They’re probably the ones who called Dreamer’s hotline.”
“Exactly,” Pandora burst out. “Magic lovers undercover.”
“That nearly rhymes,”
said Marlon, smiling at his sister. “Cool.”
Pandora slumped in her seat, Ted looking at her.
“Don’t worry, ‘Dora. Everything’s going to be ok.”
“He took my mother,” Pandora spat, looking at him. “And she’s not coming back unless she wants to, and even if she did he mightn’t let her. You heard what he said, he would’ve taken her without her consent.”
“Paul said they’ve got issues to sort out,” mumbled Marlon, Miriam listening silently as she drove. “Maybe when they’re sorted-”
“It depends what the issue is,” Pandora snapped, Ted saying “That might just be an excuse, ‘Dora. Remember, Paul’s been away for years. Maybe he just wanted to catch up with his wife and child.”
“True,” muttered Pandora, then she scowled. “It’s still not fair! Who the hell does he think he is? Just because Europe and the rest of the world is dead scared of him, it doesn’t mean I am!”
“Ok ‘Dora, ok,” said Marlon, grinning at his sister. He loved it when she lost her cool. “You cant do anything, all right? But I say if she doesn’t come back in two months we go get her. Two months is long enough to sort issues, right Dad?”
“Right,” Ted said, smiling at him as Miriam spotted KFC across the road.
Minutes later they sat in the car park, enjoying a family bucket.
“Good thing is Dreamer doesn’t have to go to that woman,” Ted said between bites of food. “I’d rather her be with her parents than her.”
“What woman?” asked Miriam, though she already knew.
“Some friend of Dreamer’s who wants to take her away from us.”
“Her!” Marlon burst out angrily. “When I find out who she is-”
“What about Denise?” asked Pandora. “Remember Denise Jessica, Dad? She’s got that fancy restaurant in the city, loads of adverts on screen.”
Ted thought about this, then he shook his head.
“Denise would never do that to us, ‘Dora. Remember how close we all was to her before she became the restaurant owner?”
“I’d like to see her,” Pandora said broodingly, sipping her Coke. “Maybe you should ask her if she knows anything about all of that, Dad.”
Ted nodded, saying “I’ll give her a call.”
Miriam felt a little guilty as she watched the man seated across from her eat, knowing he didn’t have a clue that she was the mystery woman who’d corrupted Dreamer’s mind.
Almost an hour later they were back on the road, Miriam biting her lip.
“I’m so tired,” muttered Pandora, and Marlon said “Ditto.”
“Sleep,” Ted said gently, Miriam adding “We’ve got about two hours to go. When you wake up you’ll be at home.”
* * *
Agnes opened her mouth to scream, Paul clapping a hand over her mouth quickly as he hissed “Don’t, Agnes! I need you to help me tell her.”
The baby slept on, looking like a beautiful doll.
Agnes pulled Paul’s hand away, suddenly furious.
“After you made vows to me in a church, you still went and-”
“No.” Paul shook his head. “It’s not mine.”
“Well then whose is it? Don’t tell me you kidnapped a mortal baby and-”
“No,” Paul repeated. “It’s Dreamer’s baby.”
“Impossible,” spat Agnes, glaring at the love rat she thought was her faithful husband. “She’s been back for seven months, and was only with Ted for one month in that time. It takes nine months to produce a child, Paul, and you know that. She hasn’t had time to have a baby.”
“You’re right,” agreed Paul- SMACK!!
The baby jumped in his sleep as Paul stumbled, holding the right side of his face in pain. Furious, Agnes said “So it is your child, then.”
“No,” Paul said for the third time. “It’s Dreamer’s.”
Agnes raised her hand again, but this time Paul grabbed her wrist.
“Listen to me,” he said firmly. “Three years ago, Dreamer was murdered by Damon Stile. We know this.”
Agnes nodded, then she scowled. “Why didn’t you do anything to him?”
“Stile? Don’t worry, I will. I was a little busy… with Julian.”
“Julian?”
“That’s what I decided to call him,” Paul said, then he looked uneasy. “Well, Dreamer wasn’t there and I wasn’t sure whether to tell you-”
“I’m your wife!” spat Agnes, and the baby whimpered. Taking a deep breath, she whispered “I’m your wife, Paul!”
“I’m sorry,” said Paul, looking remorseful. “I should have told you.”
“Yes you should- but this doesn’t make sense!” hissed Agnes. “Dreamer was killed, and she certainly didn’t have Julian then, so-”
“Dreamer was one month pregnant,” Paul said quietly. “But she got rid of the child- of Julian. By magic, you see. It was so wrong of her.”
“Yes,” said Agnes confusedly. “Yes it was, but I still don’t under-”
“You said it takes nine months to produce a child,” Paul said quietly, looking at Julian. “When Julian appeared here he was almost nothing. Just a ball of light, Agnes. I nurtured this light for eight long months; I didn’t leave home at all. When Julian took his first breath, I was the happiest man in the world, sad because Dreamer couldn’t share the moment with me- thanks to Damon Stile.”
“Yes, but I was there.” Agnes didn’t bother trying to mask her hurt. “I was still there, mourning her death alone. Alone, when you should have been there with me.”
“Yes, I know.” Paul wasn’t going to apologise a second time. “He’s got her green eyes- my green eyes. He’s a beautiful baby.”
“How old is he?”
“Two years four months.”
They stared at the baby in silence, for a good ten minutes. Then Agnes said “This is going to give Dreamer a heart attack.”
“I know,” agreed Paul. “But she has to know, Agnes. She also has to know she was wrong to try getting rid of Julian in the first place.”
“You have to look at it from her point of view, Paul.” Agnes spoke calmly. “She didn’t want to lose Ted or her children over Damon Stile. I’m certain she’ll lose Ted now, for he didn’t know she was pregnant.”
“He didn’t find out?”
“No. I didn’t tell him. I didn’t think I had to,” Agnes said, looking at him sharply. “I thought the baby was here no longer. And now-”
“Don’t,” said Paul, temper rising. “It isn’t the baby’s fault.”
“True. We’ll tell Dreamer tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“She’s exhausted,” snapped Agnes. “She’s been scalded by flames, which left a curse on her because of her fear-”
“I got rid of the curse,” Paul said arrogantly. “Her eyes are fine.”
“Yes, but she’s been drained of her energy. Let her sleep, Paul. Please.”
Paul knew he still had a hold on his wife. What he said still went. If he wanted to wake Dreamer she’d throw him a dirty look, but she wouldn’t argue with him. Rubbing the side of his head, he decided to let Dreamer sleep. She had been through quite a bit.
“Fine, she may sleep. By tomorrow night, she’ll know of the boy.”
“All right,” Agnes said reluctantly. “Will you tell her?”
“No. We’ll tell her.”
* * *
Dreamer frowned in her sleep, certain she could hear a baby wailing. Before she even thought of it properly she decided she was hearing things, and went back to sleep.
* * *
Ted yawned, rolling over to wrap his arms around Dreamer. The feel of the cool bed sheets made his eyes snap open, made him sit right up. He opened his mouth to whisper her name, then he remembered she wasn’t even in the house. He didn’t know where she was.
Marlon fell out of bed, banging his head on his desk on the way down.
“Ouch! Mum!”
“Mum’s not here,” Pandora said, at his door. She didn’t b
other wiping her tears away as Ted left his bedroom. “She’s with Paul.”
“Yes she is,” said Ted, as Marlon got to his feet. “She’s with Paul.”
“I didn’t mean to call her, I just-”
“Don’t be embarrassed,” Ted told his son. “You’re lucky you didn’t hear me running through the house calling her name, because I almost did.”
Pandora smiled, going into the bathroom as she said “Two months, that’s all. Then we’ll really give him a run for his money.”
* * *
Paul looked at his daughter as she ate her breakfast, wondering how to tell her. Agnes stood by his side, thinking the same.
Dreamer lifted her fork to her mouth, then she lowered it curiously.
“Mama, Papa- why are you staring at me? It’s unnerving.”
“Oh, Dreamer.” Agnes’s eyes filled. “We don’t know how to tell you-”
Dreamer pulled a piece of tissue out of thin air, picking up her wand and pointing it at her mother. The tissue zoomed towards Agnes, Agnes catching it and wiping her eyes. Paul looked at his wife, speaking quietly.
“You’re scaring her, Agnes. Stay calm.”
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