The Flying Glass (Fanglewick School of Magic Book 1)

by E. M. Cooper

  Marnie wracked her brains. ‘Me! I’m not magical age yet.’

  ‘Who else?’ Bella said.

  ‘The people from Wandermere?’

  ‘No, they’re too far away.’

  ‘What about the goblins?’ Marnie said. ‘But they’re magical. Hang on, no, they use others’ magic.’

  ‘Shh ... he’s coming back ... and crackling the air,’ Bella said quietly.

  ‘Mar-nee, come out, Marnie. I know you’re hiding.’

  Marnie held her breath, terrified Oliver could hear her breathing.

  ‘You can’t escape me. None of you can. Watch me now.’

  Oliver turned and ran back towards Andromeda.

  ‘What’s he doing?’

  Bella peered through the wet grass towards Andromeda House. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘I have to go back to the lake for Seb and Lissa.’

  ‘No, only the goblins can help.’

  Marnie ran up the path but cut across the lawns in case Oliver came back the same way. She skirted around Andromeda House. As she rounded one side of the house, she saw Andromeda students spilling from the back door with Oliver in the lead.

  ‘Party at the lake,’ one boy yelled.

  ‘Moon’s up,’ a girl cried.

  They cheered and whooped as they set off down the grassy path to the lake.

  Desperate, Marnie sprinted with Bella towards Fanglewick, her breath coming in short painful gasps. She ran through the open doors to the stone steps leading to the kitchen where the fire was still burning. Inside a couple of goblin women sat at the table drinking and talking.

  ‘Marnie! What are you doing here so late?’ one woman said.

  ‘I have to talk to Astra or Keruncle. Hurry, please, it’s an emergency.’

  One of the goblins scurried to the passage on the other side and brought Astra back.

  ‘Marnie, what is it?’

  ‘Please, Astra, we need your help. One of the boys from Andromeda has gone strange. He’s taking kids to the lake ... the water ... I think it’s making them weird. There are ghosts.’

  ‘I understand,’ Astra said calmly. ‘The ghosts are luring students into the lake under the full moon. Only the non-magic can help. Go, lock yourself in your room, Marnie. We’ll take care of it.’

  ‘Thank you, Astra.’

  Astra disappeared into the stone corridor to rouse the goblins.

  Marnie hurried back up the steps followed by Bella.

  ‘Don’t be deaf-eared. You heard her.’ Bella’s tone was stern.

  ‘I know, but I have to make sure Seb and Lissa are safe.’

  ‘No, Marnie.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Bella.’

  Marnie sprinted back to Andromeda and ran through the empty common room and through the back door. The grassy path to the lake was deserted. Terrified about what she would find in the lake, she ran to the pebbly beach and saw a girl sobbing and crouched behind a tree.

  ‘Lissa!’

  Dripping wet, Lissa shivered in the night air. ‘Oh Marnie, it’s you, thank goodness. Seb saved me ... he dragged me out.’ She pointed at the strip of sandy beach where the Andromeda students were standing in a row. The water lapped at their ankles as they stared at the sky and the ghosts swarmed from the lake in a rising fog. ‘It’s like they’re all waiting for something.’

  ‘Do you think it’s the moon?’ Marnie squinted at the swollen moon. ‘See, it’s almost at its peak in the sky.’

  ‘I think you’re right.’

  ‘Where’s Seb?’

  Lissa pointed at the lone figure on the broomstick on the far left. He was weaving back and forwards trying to pull students from the water. His attempts were futile because Oliver was pushing them back in just as quickly and laughing as he did. ‘He’s mad. What can we do?’

  ‘You need to go back to the school and tell the teachers. And get out of your wet clothes before you freeze.’

  ‘What about you?’

  ‘I’m safe here. The goblins are coming. The water can’t affect them or me ’cause we’re not magic.’

  ‘Promise me you won’t do anything stupid?’

  Marnie grinned. ‘Everything will be fine.’

  As they watched the crazy scene, a blur of creatures came rushing down the path and streaming over the pebbles.

  Lissa rubbed her eyes. ‘What ... what is that?’

  ‘Goblins ... they can move very fast when they need to. Go now, please Lissa.’

  She turned and ran towards the school while Marnie watched the goblins hauling the students back from the water.

  Oliver fumed as he strode back along the beach. He pulled his wand from his sleeve and spotted Seb coming back to shore. Raising his arm and shouting, he sent a burst of yellow light jagging from his wand across the water. It struck Seb square on the chest. He struggled to hold on but toppled from the broom and fell with a splash into the water. A few goblins descended on Oliver, pummelling him until he fell to the beach and didn’t move.

  Marnie ran over the pebbles towards the water where Seb had fallen a few metres from shore but hadn’t surfaced. For a moment she paused, terrified the water might bewitch her as the spectres loomed closer. Terrified, she waded in and dived. A tangle of weeds obscured her vision. She came up gasping and desperately dived again. ‘No, Seb.’

  When she surfaced a strange fog had descended and eerie voices whispered. ‘Stay with us.’

  ‘Never.’ She felt for her glasses in her jacket and with shaking hands, pulled them on. Everywhere the water glowed blood red. She steadied and turned in a circle. A hint of gold lay in the deeper water among the reeds. She took a deep breath and dived towards the gold.

  Seb lay with his eyes closed on the sand held by reeds. Marnie pulled him from the tangle and felt the weed strain and tear before she hauled Seb to the surface. She pushed his head above the water and struggled to grab a breath before they both sank. They fell to the bottom again, but Marnie pushed off hard. When they surfaced again, she screamed. After a few more attempts, she felt her strength fading. On the last attempt, she couldn’t reach the surface and felt Seb slip from her grasp.

  I’m sorry, Seb, she thought as the water grew dark and her mind drifted away.

  * * *

  CHAPTER 23

  Waking

  ‘Wake up, Marnie,’ called Sister Yallow tapping her cheeks.

  Marnie opened one eye and then the other, astonished to discover she was still alive and lying in the infirmary again.

  ‘See, I told you. She’s a witch and has the constitution of a mavilrack.’ Lexi Spindlewood was standing next to Yallow with her arms folded.

  ‘What’s a mavilrack?’ Marnie asked in a weak voice.

  Lexi cracked a smile. ‘In earthly vernacular—like an ox. We’ll really have to take you home to Xenia for a visit one day. It’s obvious you need to know about your heritage.’

  ‘Seb ... is he okay?’

  ‘Thanks to you and Lexi although that knockout spell from Oliver on top of a near drowning didn’t do him much good. He’ll need a long rest,’ Yallow said.

  ‘You were there?’ Marnie said to Lexi in a confused voice. ‘I didn’t see you.’

  ‘I was bothered by dreadful feelings last night and couldn’t sleep. I was on the path to Shining Lake following my psychic hunch when I ran into Lissa. I got there just in time to hear and see you sinking with Seb. Although I couldn’t wade into the waters with the full moon, I directed the goblins to you.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Marnie said. ‘What about the others?’

  ‘All fine, thanks again to the goblins. That was very clever of you to realise they’d be safe in the water.’

  Marnie wanted to give Bella the credit but thought better of the idea. They’d only assume she had suffered concussion and had imagined the cat talking to her. She’d never get out of the infirmary.

  ‘I’d better go and check on your friends in the other ward,’ Sister Yallow said.

  ‘Friends?’ Marnie sai
d as she sat up.

  ‘Oliver and Seb,’ Lexi said.

  Marnie waited for Yallow to leave through the other doorway to the ward. ‘Oliver’s here? He’s dangerous you know.’

  ‘Not anymore.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  Bella strolled into the ward and leaped onto the bed. Marnie reached and hauled her onto her lap.

  Lexi sat on the end of the bed. ‘I think we need to talk. You need to tell me what you know.’

  Marnie sighed. ‘From the beginning?’

  ‘Which is?’

  ‘Charlie is the beginning ... but it’s awful. You won’t tell anyone, will you?’

  Lexi shook her head. ‘I promise.’

  Marnie told her about Charlie summoning the djinn in Fanglewick and how it had possessed Jax and chased Charlie into Lunaris Field. When she told Lexi about the dark creature the djinn had mentioned, she paled.

  ‘Let me get this straight. Mystilic took the djinn back to the halo, but the other creature is still here?’

  Marnie nodded. ‘Although the djinn talked about the creature, we weren’t sure it existed. You know, he could’ve been making it up to scare Charlie.’

  Lexi ran her fingers through her hair. ‘I guess it took Oliver over last night.’

  ‘But why?’

  ‘You’ve probably heard Fanglewick is the centre of magic.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Magic is born and grows here before flowing in fine rivers through the multiverse. Contaminations concentrate in the upper floors and eventually are destroyed or reabsorbed. It’s like a living body with an immune system. Without it, all magic would cease.’

  ‘What does it have to do with that creature?’

  ‘Many entities have sought to bring Fanglewick under their control. Outsiders from other dimensions have attacked in dreadful wars. I guess the creature was trying to interfere with Shining Lake, the first reservoir of magic after Fanglewick. Perhaps it was trying to work backwards towards Fanglewick.’

  Marnie didn’t want to hear anymore. It was too frightening to comprehend. ‘Is Oliver okay now?’

  ‘He’s fine and has no memory of what happened last night or indeed last week. I wouldn’t mention any of this to him.’

  ‘What about Seb and Lissa? Should I tell them not to tell Oliver?’

  ‘Yes, you probably should.’

  Marnie remembered her broomstick lesson last weekend and realised she and Seb had probably been the unwitting victims of the creature’s plan. Embarrassed by her and Seb’s stupidity, she didn’t tell Lexi about how they had broken school rules. She was beginning to understand they were there to protect, more than limit them, especially in light of Fanglewick’s history.

  ‘Do you think the creature has gone?’

  Lexi didn’t respond. Instead she gave her a lukewarm smile.

  ‘Can I visit Seb?’

  ‘Yes, until Sister Yallow chases you away.’

  Marnie stroked Bella. ‘Will you be telling Professor Crabwinkle what Charlie did?’

  Lexi sighed. ‘No, I should but I gave you my word.’

  ‘I’m sure he’s been badly frightened by his mistake.’

  ‘I’m surprised you’re defending him.’

  ‘We all make mistakes.’

  ‘I won’t tell her this time. You need to help him though. He’s led a sheltered life ... his actions are the result of not knowing the right way to live.’

  ‘I think I understand.’

  ‘I will have to talk to Professor Crabwinkle about the creature though. I promise I won’t mention any of you by name.’

  When Lexi left the ward, Marnie buried her face in Bella’s fur. ‘I’m so glad to see you again. Why didn’t you speak up when Lexi was here?’

  Bella coughed as though she were choking on a fur ball. ‘Only you can understand me. All she would hear would be a garble song of yowling and growling.’

  ‘Why can I hear you?’

  ‘If I could shrug I would.’

  Marnie climbed from the infirmary bed and crept next door to the boys’ ward with Bella padding after her. At the other end of the ward, two patients lay side by side—Seb and Oliver.

  ‘Marnie.’ Oliver propped on his elbow. ‘Are you okay?’ His eyes were blackened and he was covered from head to toe in purple bruises.

  ‘You look dreadful,’ Marnie began, feeling wary.

  ‘I know. Sister Yallow said something awful happened at Shining Lake. Were you there?’

  Marnie nodded.

  ‘I can’t remember anything. It’s scary.’

  ‘Something horrible attacked kids at the lake,’ Marnie said.

  ‘But I don’t remember being there or even before that.’

  ‘What do you remember last?’

  Oliver groaned. ‘The day of the whacksplat game.’

  ‘You should rest now.’

  ‘Is Seb okay?’ he asked.

  ‘I hope so. Yallow seems to think so. I have to go now. I’ll talk to you later. When Seb wakes, tell him I came by.’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘They’ll be okay,’ Bella said as they left the boys’ ward.

  ‘Are you certain?’

  ‘Cat’s honour.’

  * * *

  CHAPTER 24

  End of term

  The months whizzed by and Marnie was enjoying all her classes with Professors Silas, Bright, Crawfoot, Gloam and Pentwhistle, but she was frustrated by her inability to work magic. She was counting down the days until her birthday even though it meant returning for a few weeks to the Arnolds’ home in Downfell and crossing the demonic halo again. The dark creature who had inhabited Oliver hadn’t reared its head again although Marnie couldn’t help wondering where it had gone. Professor Crabwinkle and the other teachers hadn’t asked any more about the creature.

  When the end of final term approached and everyone from Earth was growing excited about going home for Christmas, Marnie was called to Professor Crabwinkle’s office. Jax held the door open for her and she approached the professor’s desk.

  ‘Sit down, please, Marnie.’ The professor frowned as she looked over Marnie’s shoulder.

  ‘Have I done something wrong?’ She picked at a thread in her dress. ‘It was an accident.’

  ‘Pardon?’

  ‘You are talking about the golden chrysalises yesterday?’

  Professor Crabwinkle frowned.

  ‘We were collecting them from the hanging gardens behind Lyra House with Professor Gloam. I accidentally picked the stinging maggots and threw them in with the chrysalises ... they were dark gold, well maybe brown. It was an honest mistake.’

  ‘Settle down, Marnie. All is well. I haven’t brought you here over that.’

  Bizzle fluttered from a roost behind Crabwinkle across the room to another by the window.

  ‘The cat, my dear.’

  Marnie turned around to see Bella sitting behind her on the floor licking her paw. ‘Oh, I didn’t know she’d followed me.’

  ‘It’s fine, but Bizzle isn’t fond of cats.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’ Marnie frowned at Bella. ‘I’ll make certain she doesn’t do it next time.’ She guided Bella to the door and shoved her gently outside.

  ‘Would you like some tea?’

  ‘Thank you, with milk, no sugar, please.’

  Crabwinkle waved at a tray sitting on the desk and a floral-patterned pot poured steaming tea into a china cup followed by a jug that tipped and splashed milk into the tea. The cup rose and floated to a surprised Marnie, who almost forgot to catch it as it passed her.

  ‘I’ll never get used to it,’ she mumbled.

  ‘I’ve brought you here to discuss the end of term exams.’

  Marnie’s heart sank.

  ‘After chatting to your teachers, we’ve decided since you’ve not reached magical age, you’ll be excused from examinations this term. I realise you could do the history of magical beasts theory exam with Professor Gloam, but I think you might benefit from
concentrating on your reading for now.’

  Marnie couldn’t contain her smile.

  ‘I thought that might please you. I want you to keep studying and memorising the theory and of course, practising your reading. Next year will be a different matter. You’ll be expected to sit all the exams—and pass them.’

  ‘Is that all, professor?’

  ‘Hmm, not quite.’

  Marnie spotted the spying mirror in a new position to the side of the professor’s desk and suddenly felt exposed.

  ‘It’s a pleasant matter.’

  Marnie relaxed.

  ‘Professor Spindlewood asked me if you could visit Wandermere with her next weekend. She said your cat needs immunisation and she also wanted to purchase a travelling bag for the animal since you’ll be returning to Earth in December. Are you happy to go with her?’

  Marnie nodded enthusiastically.

  ‘Well, that’s settled. You can choose a couple of friends to go with you too if you’d like. You’re all to assemble in the committee room next door at nine sharp on Saturday morning. Professor Spindlewood will be waiting for you.’

  * * *

  ‘No exams,’ Lissa said as they waited outside the committee room. ‘It isn’t really fair.’ She was studying an open notebook on her lap while they waited.

  ‘What did you expect me to do, argue with her?’ Marnie grinned as she stroked Bella’s head after she poked it out from the backpack Seb had loaned her.

  Seb shook his head at Marnie in disgust. ‘Aye, you’ll be lying by the fire sleeping instead of reading. We know you.’

  ‘I’m so jealous,’ Lissa said.

  ‘It sounds perfect to me,’ Seb said. ‘You’re lucky, Marnie. Silas is testing our broomstick skills on Monday—individually. Oliver reckons he’s really strict and tests how straight you can fly backwards over chalk lines on the grass. One wobble and you’re out. He said half the class failed last year and had to take remedial classes in January until they passed. I guess I’m doomed.’

  ‘I’m more worried about Thigi’s exam,’ Lissa said. ‘He can choose any potion from the first year text and you have to make it perfectly from memory with him breathing down your neck. I’m dreading I’ll get the Dragonus draught. It’s so long and complicated. I’ve tried it ten times and can’t get it right.’