by E. M. Cooper
‘You can talk?’
Bella scratched under her chin with her back foot. ‘Obviously.’
‘Am I going mad?’
‘I’m not sure I’m the one to judge. We’ve only just met.’
Marnie tried to contain her panic. ‘Does Lexi know?’
‘About my fine voice? No, only you. It’s nothing to be afraid of, I promise. Anyway, if you wouldn’t mind, could you open the window please? The grass world awaits.’
Marnie pushed the window open enough for Bella to wriggle through. ‘Are you the only cat that speaks?’
‘Couldn’t say. Although I’ve never met another with my talents. Ah, a full globe.’
‘The moon?’
Beautiful isn’t it?’ Bella tiptoed along the window ledge before crouching and hissing.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Not sure. My honed whiskers detect the unexpected. Sometimes they act as though they have a mind of their own.’
‘Well be careful.’ Marnie pointed. ‘Don’t go beyond the lawns in that direction because it’s infested with vicious fairies. And don’t go to the lake behind Andromeda ... there are ghosts. Oh and over there is more forest—the Wilderly Woods. Stay out of them ’cause you might get lost and I don’t know what creatures live in them.’
‘Yes, yes, I know about them. Don’t worry about me. I’m a cat. I can sense the prickly dark and prefer to avoid it.’ Bella stopped talking and stared into the darkness. ‘There, did you feel that?’ The cat shivered and its tail switched.
Marnie followed her gaze. ‘No. Maybe you shouldn’t go out.’
‘Sleep tight and don’t wait up for me.’ The cap leapt to the lawn and disappeared up the path towards Fanglewick.
* * *
CHAPTER 21
Witchy beginnings
Marnie woke next morning with Bella sleeping soundly and curled neatly at the bottom of her bed. A girl knocked and delivered a package containing her new uniform and shiny black shoes. After receiving it, Marnie thanked her and opened the wrapped parcel. She laid the precious shirts, jumpers, pants, skirt and socks in their beautiful shades of grey and bottle green on the bed and overwhelmed by their significance, she almost felt like crying. She gathered the clothes and hurried to the bathroom where she showered and dressed in her new Fanglewick uniform before standing proudly in front of the mirror. Staring at her reflection, she tried to detect any new witchy details but was disappointed.
‘Why the down-curled mouth?’ Bella asked.
Startled, Marnie turned to the cat realising the previous night hadn’t been a strange dream.
‘Nothing.’
‘Everyone’s twitchy at the beginning.’
‘You too?’
Bella yowled in a cat-like laughter. ‘Not me. My life’s breezy. But I’ve lived long enough to observe your witchy, wizardy, elfiny struggles.’
‘How long would that be?’
‘Don’t know. I can’t count or rather I get confused converting my years to yours. In any case, far older than you.’ Bella focused on licking one of her front legs.
‘Did you see anything strange in the grounds after you left here last night?’
‘No, must have been a false echo.’
‘I’m glad to hear it.’
‘Go on; hurry your legs, although you might want to do up your shoelaces first.’
Marnie crouched to attend to them and when she stood Bella made a trumpet-like sound.
‘Your future awaits.’
‘Thanks.’ Marnie gathered her spell book for her first class in strategic magic with Silas. ‘What will you do all day?’
‘The usual, I suppose. Contemplate dinner. Sleep. The sun looks warm and I’ve found a nice nook in Andromeda’s garden. If you open your window when you return from classes, I’ll find my way home in the afternoon.’
As Marnie left her room, Bella slipped down the corridor and out the front entrance of Andromeda. When Marnie reached the common room, she saw Seb sitting and waiting.
‘You look great.’ He grinned. ‘Are you ready?’
‘I think so.’
‘You’ll be fine, Marnie.’
After devouring honey pancakes for breakfast with Seb and Lissa, Marnie made her way to the second floor for Silas’ class.
‘Nervous?’ Lissa asked.
Marnie nodded as they climbed the stairs. ‘Fanglewick’s so different by day.’
‘Thank goodness,’ Lissa said.
All the doors on first floor were open. In one room two elderly wizards sat in comfortable chairs around a low table reading papers and smoking pipes. Deeper into the room, stacks of books lined the walls. Across the landing in another empty room, a large window allowed beams of light to catch the movement of butterflies flitting about. Another room with a sunroof was stacked with shelves and rows of potted orchids.
‘Some rooms stay the same for ages,’ Seb said ‘while others might disappear after a day.’
‘I don’t get it,’ Marnie said. ‘Where does the stuff inside the rooms come from?’
‘Muriel Crawfoot says Fanglewick grows it,’ Seb explained. ‘She told us the rooms can stay for a day while others last months or even years. While some rooms crumble and evaporate, others vanish in the time it takes to blink.’
‘So it might not be destroyed,’ Lissa said.
‘If the stuff inside is sent away maybe it could come back,’ Marnie said.
‘Who knows?’ Seb said. ‘You could probably ask those old wizards in the reading room we passed. A lot of scholars and scientists from the Font come here and try to work out Fanglewick’s magic.’ He laughed. ‘I don’t think they’ve had much success given they’ve been trying for centuries.’
‘How do you know which room to go to for classes?’
‘Jax inspects the building first thing every morning and assigns rooms for each class. He posts a daily list in the great hall at breakfast,’ Lissa said. ‘He’s obviously quite clever to sort them out in his head.’
‘Hurry along,’ called Silas, who was standing outside the classroom. ‘Nearly late for your first class, Ms Speck?’
‘Nearly late?’ Marnie whispered to Seb when they were safely out of Silas’ hearing. ‘Is that a thing?’
‘It is to Silas,’ Lissa said.
Despite Silas’ off-putting welcome, Marnie’s heart sang. She was at the beginning of her magical education. Images tumbled in her mind: Downfell, the vortex, failing the exam, the djinn, Shining Lake, Bella—the photo and the lenses. Tears formed in her eyes. Today the past felt overwhelming.
‘You okay?’ Seb said.
Lissa squeezed her hand.
Marnie smiled. She had made it with her friends.
‘Attention, class.’ Grim-faced, Silas strode onto the platform in front of the benches. He looked as though he’d forgotten how to sleep. The dark circles under his eyes contrasted with his long blond hair pulled back in a formal plait, a popular fashion worn by male witches, or at least those from the Imporium and Fanglewick. ‘For the past few weeks we have been delving into the history of significant battles in the Old World. As you’ll now appreciate, the consequences of magical war are usually devastating. I’m not here to teach you the politics or strategies of war. During your years at Fanglewick, you’ll be taught the art of defence. However, if you’re recruited by the Imporium and if war breaks out, this focus might change.’
Marnie felt as though the air was crackling. Around her the other students listened intently. In her mind Fanglewick, the Imporium and this world were like a huge jigsaw puzzle with fascinating pieces being revealed every day.
‘Today I’m going to teach you your first ward spell. Many layers of protection exist to guard Fanglewick and its students. This spell is one basic building block. Over time you will learn many.’ Silas urged them to take a stick of chalk from a jar he held. ‘Now in the clear floor space, please copy the symbol I’m drawing on the board.’
Marnie knelt on the floor and wat
ched carefully. She drew the circle, the small stars and the fancy squiggle and sat back on her haunches to admire her work when she’d finished.
Silas walked around the room, checking the symbols and correcting the occasional mistake until he was certain they were sound. ‘Good. Now everyone, step outside your circle and repeat these words after me, ‘freeloria, freeloreia, I prohibitoria’.
Marnie repeated the words with the class over and over and individually until they all spoke the spell perfectly and Silas was satisfied.
‘Now we will test your wards. Remember your circle will only work for you, so don’t change circles. It’s attuned to the sound and intonation of your spoken words. Silas reached into his sleeve and withdrew his wand. ‘Everyone stand inside your circle and repeat the spell.’ He waved his wand and muttered before picking up a large black jar with a stopper on his desk. The light in the classroom faded until Marnie could barely see the other students.
A few of the students squealed.
‘My circle’s glowing.’
‘Mine too.’
Marnie glanced down at hers but couldn’t see it, realising instantly she wasn’t able to stir hers into life without magic. Disappointed, she listened to the others’ excitement.
‘And now we’ll test your wards,’ Silas announced, dramatically pulling the stopper in his jar. ‘Watch how the giant Malor rat is repelled by your wards.’
A few of the students screamed in fright as an oversized sharp-toothed rat ran and tried to attack them. Yet when it reached their circle it braked and changed direction.
Panicked, Marnie realised hers was the only ward circle not glowing. When the rat turned and came in her direction, shrieking and snapping, she ran and barged into a boy behind her. ‘Sorry.’ She darted around and between the glowing circles while trying to detect and avoid students and benches in the dark.
Suddenly the rat caught her and locked its teeth around her ankle. Marnie screamed in pain.
Almost instantly, Silas waved his wand and the light flashed on in the room. Seeing Marnie rolling on the floor in pain with the creature attached to her leg, he flicked his wand at it and yelled, ‘Freezus!’
The rat shrieked and froze before rolling onto its back with its legs in the air and icicles forming on its limbs and brows.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Marnie, trying to stop the trickle of blood on the floor. ‘I didn’t know you were going to release the rat.’
‘Class dismissed,’ Silas said.
Everyone gathered their belongings and left the room while whispering to each other.
‘You too,’ Silas said to Seb and Lissa. ‘I’ll take care of this.’
Silas waved his wand and muttered a healing spell.
Marnie watched as the blood flow from her ankle slowed and the pain faded.
As Silas picked up the frozen rat, dropped it into the jar and replaced the stopper, Marnie stood and gathered her bag.
‘You must learn to listen to the spell and say the words exactly,’ Silas said.
Marnie nodded. ‘I don’t think ... forget it.’
‘Speak your mind.’
‘I’m not fourteen yet.’
Shock passed over Silas’ face. ‘I-I had no idea.’
‘I didn’t know either until Lexi, I mean Professor Spindlewood told me last night when witches reach their magical age. I won’t be fourteen until January next year.’
‘Please forgive me.’
‘It’s not your fault.’
Silas seemed confused. ‘And yet you managed to get to Fanglewick through the halo. How is that possible?’
Marnie nodded. ‘Yes, I know. Professor Spindlewood was surprised too.’
‘Sometimes things can happen in life out of our control.’ Silas watched the rat thawing and twitching in the jar. ‘Chalk it up to experience and look to the future. It’s the best approach.’ The rat bared its teeth and gnashed at Silas. ‘Indeed, sometimes it’s the only way.’
Marnie nodded. ‘Thank you, I will.’
‘Again, I’m sorry. Next time, I’ll make arrangements to cater for you until your birthday. If you would like notes to catch up on what we’ve already covered, please ask.’
‘Yes, please. By the way, I enjoyed my first lesson,’ Marnie grinned, ‘well, until the rat arrived.’
Silas nodded, obviously embarrassed. ‘Good, I’m glad. You’d better hurry now to your second class. And please, tell your teachers, so there are no more occurrences like this morning.’
‘I will.’
* * *
CHAPTER 22
Shining Lake
Marnie awoke to someone tapping on her door and Bella growling and switching her tail. The full moon was shining directly in her window and casting weird elongated shadows from the cat.
‘What is it?’ Marnie whispered.
‘Wizard boys.’ Bella hissed. ‘Be careful. The air is out of kilter. Beware.’
Marnie opened the door ajar and when she recognised Seb and Oliver standing in the dim corridor, relaxed and unhooked the chain. ‘Thank goodness, it’s just you. What’s wrong?’
‘Lissa, she’s trapped,’ Oliver blurted.
Bella growled softly.
‘Slow down, take a deep breath,’ said Marnie stroking Bella’s head to settle her.
Oliver’s hair was dishevelled and he didn’t look like he had slept. ‘Hurry, please. We have to help her.’
Marnie pulled on boots and a jacket over her pyjamas. ‘Where is she?’
‘Shining Lake. Some of the elves went to explore. I followed them.’ Oliver was obviously distressed. ‘They left her behind in the cave ... the ghosts came out of the lake ... it was terrible. She can’t get out.’
‘She’s hiding in the cave?’ Marnie said.
Oliver nodded.
‘Someone has to tell Thigimus.’
‘There’s no time,’ Oliver said and rushed from the room and along the corridor.
‘You stay here, Bella.’ Marnie reached to close the door, but the cat whipped through the opening after Oliver.
‘Forget the cat,’ Seb said.
‘Were you with Oliver at the lake?’
‘No, he woke me before we came to you. I’ve never seen him like this.’
They ran along the corridor and out the back door of Andromeda towards the overgrown path they had walked a few weeks ago. The full moon hung ominously in the night sky casting shadows around them and a forlorn bird call made Marnie’s spine tingle.
‘Why would Lissa go to the lake?’ Marnie said as they jogged along the path after Oliver.
‘Same reason we did—for the excitement and because others were doing it.’
‘No, Lissa’s not like that. She’s careful. Something’s wrong.’
When they reached the bend, the lake looked completely different from the day they had explored it. The lake glowed with an eerie light and flickering shapes moved in and over the blue water.
Oliver was waiting where the Fanglewick lawns met the expanse of white pebbles. ‘We have to go down there.’
‘Wait,’ Seb said. ‘Why don’t we skirt around the beach and cut down to the cave? We can move faster that way.’
‘No, there’s no path over there and it gets wild and overgrown where it merges with Lunaris Field,’ said Oliver, his gaze switching back and forwards from them to the lake. ‘We have to go this way.’
The three crept over the pebbles towards the sandy beach near the cave. Marnie followed the boys while keeping one eye on the wispy shapes floating over the lake. ‘Can they touch or harm us?’
‘I-I don’t know.’ Seb watched them closely. ‘There’s Lissa,’ he said in a puzzled voice. ‘What’s she doing?’
‘Standing in the water,’ Marnie said.
‘Lissa, come out of there,’ Seb called as they approached.
Ignoring them, Lissa stared instead at the ghostly shapes rising from the water as the full moon inched higher in the sky.
The spectres glowed in unnatura
l neon tones of pink, blue and green and wailed softly. Horrified, Marnie caught a glimpse of strange shadowy faces in the heart of each shape as they twisted and turned.
‘Don’t go in there, Marnie,’ Seb said. ‘There’s something wrong with Lissa. I think she’s bewitched.’
Slowly, Lissa waded deeper into the water until it lapped at her waist.
‘No, Lissa,’ Seb said softly as they got closer.
‘We have to help her.’ Marnie looked around for a log or something that might float, but all she could see were white pebbles. She ran further up the beach.
‘Come back,’ Oliver shouted. ‘You mustn’t go.’
The ghosts wailed and thrashed at the sound of his voice echoing off the pine-covered hill on the other side of the lake.
Marnie remembered the cave. She raced over the pebbles with her heart in her mouth and her gaze on the ground, terrified the ghosts were coming after her. Relieved to see the broomstick leaning against the cave wall, she grabbed it and hurried back.
She held the broom up for Seb and Oliver to see. ‘I can’t ride it, but one of you could help her.’
Seb grabbed the broom. ‘You go back for help, Marnie. Get Thigimus and Crabwinkle. Hurry. I’ll try and drag Lissa out of the water.’
Oliver was standing at the edge of the lake staring at Lissa.
‘Are you okay, Oliver?’ Marnie called. ‘Come away from the water.’
‘I’m fine,’ he said in a flat tone. ‘You’d better hurry.’
Terrified Oliver might follow Lissa further into the water, Marnie turned and ran over the pebbly beach to the grass trail. She didn’t look back, knowing every second counted.
She was halfway up the track when a small dark figure intercepted her. ‘Bella! Don’t go down to the lake.’
Bella hissed. ‘Dive into the bushes ahead. He’s coming after you.’
‘Who?’
‘The dark one ... the Oliver.’
Marnie gasped, stopped and listened for a moment before scrambling to hide. She could hear running footsteps. Moments later, Oliver came sprinting past at an impossible speed.
Bella whispered in Marnie’s ears. ‘Think. You need help. The ghosts are only attracted to magical beings. Who else isn’t magic?’