‘Hey, wait a minute,’ the voice called, and Jess slowly turned around. ‘You’re Charley’s little sister, aren’t you?’
‘Jess,’ she nodded.
‘Marcus,’ he gestured to himself. ‘We met once when I came round to see Charley.’
‘I remember.’
‘What are you doing? Shouldn’t you be at school?’
Jess shrugged. ‘Shouldn’t you?’
‘I guess so, yeah. Not really a massive fan of it though.’
‘I hear you,’ Jess murmured.
‘So what’s your excuse?’ Marcus asked casually. ‘You don’t look like you’re having much fun.’
‘My gran just died.’
His expression changed and Marcus took a step towards Jess. ‘Oh, God, I’m sorry.’
‘It’s okay.’
‘You must be–’
‘No, really. It’s okay. I don’t care. I know I should be heartbroken, crying my eyes out and blubbering to anyone who’ll listen, but I don’t feel a thing. I’m not sad, it doesn’t hurt. There’s nothing there.’
Marcus didn’t say anything.
‘And now I’m ranting to a total stranger about how much of a selfish cow I am. The day gets better and better.’
‘You’re not selfish,’ Marcus said kindly. ‘People deal with grief in different ways.’
‘What grief? I’m not grieving. I don’t even miss her. I’m not sorry that she’s dead. What kind of a person does that make me?’
‘You’re just confused, Jess. Don’t be so hard on yourself.’
‘I’m not the one who’s confused. Apparently Charley strolled out of the hospital saying she was going for a cup of tea with Gran.’
Marcus cocked his head to one side. ‘Really?’
‘Yeah. Dad said she went into some sort of trance-like state, wasn’t making a bit of sense. I swear, she’ll do anything to get attention.’
‘That explains the storm then.’
‘What?’
‘Hmm . . . oh, nothing. Is she all right?’
‘Charley? Who knows? Who cares,’ Jess groaned.
As the breeze got stronger, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a pointless move really, seeing as the wind blew it straight back out again.
Marcus frowned. ‘What’s wrong with your hand?’
‘Oh, nothing. I, eh, burnt it. I have to go.’ Jess took off down the street and turning the corner, bumped right into Marcus again.
‘Jess–’
‘How did you do that?’ she interrupted, looking over her shoulder.
‘Tell me what happened,’ he said, his voice gentle but firm.
‘It’s nothing.’
‘Doesn’t look like nothing.’
‘I’m . . . I’m not sure. I only noticed it a few minutes ago. The other one’s the same.’
She put her hands out in front of her and gasped at what she saw. Both were now black, the flesh rotting away like something from a horror film.
‘Holy shit,’ Marcus whispered.
‘What’s happening to me?’
Marcus took her hands in his and told her not to panic. He held on to them, his eyes not leaving hers, and when he let go, Jess frowned in confusion, holding her hands up and studying them closely.
‘How did you . . . ?’
They were back to normal, the skin pink and perfect with no signs of decay.
‘Parlour trick, precious, nothing to it.’
‘Marcus,’ she said, crossing her arms.
‘It was nothing.’
‘God, is there anyone around here that doesn’t treat me like a kid?’
Marcus smiled at her petty outburst. ‘You are a kid, Jess. Heck, I’m still a kid.’
‘You know what I mean,’ she said sadly.
‘Listen, trouble. I’m not trying to be condescending. Let’s just say, your sister isn’t the only one who can pull off fancy pranks.’
‘They aren’t pranks, the things Charley does. I’ve seen it for myself.’
Marcus nodded. ‘Yep, she’s powerful, that one.’
‘She’s a freak, that’s what she is.’
Marcus cocked an eyebrow. ‘Says the girl whose hands were just wasting away.’
‘Says the guy who just magically healed them,’ she retorted.
‘Fair enough,’ he laughed. ‘You hungry?’
‘Not really.’
‘Could you eat?’
‘Probably not,’ she said honestly.
‘Cool. Wanna come watch me eat? I’m starving.’
Jess giggled. ‘Sure, why not?’
She felt more relaxed than she had done all day. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so content. Marcus was a breath of fresh air. He didn’t treat her like a child, at least not to the extent that everybody else did. She felt like she could just be herself with him. She didn’t have to lie or hide; she could just be Jess.
Charley sat in front of Quinn with her legs crossed, a magazine lying flat on her lap.
It had been nearly a week since her gran’s funeral, and Charley had spent almost all of her spare time at Aiden’s, avoiding her parents as much as possible.
Every time she walked into the room, she could feel their eyes on her, trying to work out what was going through her head. She couldn’t stand it – the awkward silences, everyone behaving as though they’d gone completely barmy. Even Jess was acting stranger than normal; for once she actually seemed quite . . . happy. Well, happier than usual anyway, which gave Charley cause for concern. Plus, she’d started puking again, every time Jess came near her. Aiden’s house definitely seemed like the safest bet.
‘What’s Dru like?’ Charley asked Quinn, who was busy twisting Charley’s hair into a long French plait.
‘Dru? Pretty much the same as me. She’s grumpier though, and has brighter hair. Dru gives a whole new meaning to the term redhead.’
‘So what happened there?’ Charley asked. ‘I thought you were identical twins. Aren’t you meant to be, you know . . . identical?’
Quinn laughed. ‘Apparently in rare cases, identical twins can be born with different hair colours. Probably not the case with us though. I think when they say that, they mean chestnut brown and dusty blonde or something, not bone-white and pillar-box red.’
‘So how’d it happen?’ Charley asked.
‘Something to do with the spell, I think. It can have side effects. I don’t mind though,’ Quinn winked. ‘Makes me unique.’
‘That’s one word to use,’ Aiden said, strolling into the living room with his arms full. ‘What is this, a slumber party?’ he groaned.
‘We’re bonding, shorty, keep your shirt on.’
Aiden walked over to Charley and bent down, kissing her gently on the cheek. ‘How long are you staying for?’
‘I better head home just now,’ Charley sighed. ‘Dad insisted we all sit down for a family meal. Wouldn’t take no for an answer.’ She pulled a face that showed how she felt about ‘family night’ in the Chambers’ household.
‘You never know,’ Aiden shrugged, ‘it might not be that bad.’
Charley raised an eyebrow. ‘Easy for you to say.’
‘You want me to walk you home?’
‘No, I’ll be fine. You should take Quinn out somewhere, it would do both of you some good.’
Aiden rolled his eyes at the suggestion.
‘I’ll call you.’
He smiled as she made her way down his front path. ‘Later, Chambers.’
Charley pulled her coat tightly around her as she walked the empty streets towards her house. It was quiet for a Saturday night, which she found quite refreshing; she hadn’t had much time to herself all week, especially since Quinn had decided they ought to become bosom buddies and had barely left h
er side.
She liked Quinn, she really did. She’d been a bit unsure at first, especially with the dream and the stabbing and whatnot, but now she could see how genuine she really was. She cared a lot, and that meant something to Charley.
She cut through an alley and was round the back of one of the pubs when she heard a rustling noise behind her.
‘I know you’re there,’ she said, slowing to a halt.
‘Wasn’t trying to hide, gorgeous.’
Marcus strolled out of the shadows, his boots scuffing the ground as he walked. He was wearing his black duffel coat, his hands buried in the pockets.
‘What do you want?’ Charley sighed.
‘Just a chat, love.’
‘Don’t call me that. I’m not your love,’ she said in disgust.
‘You sure about that?’ Marcus smiled, half his face illuminated by the street lights, the other half hidden in darkness.
‘Go away, Marcus. I don’t have time for games.’
‘Who’s playing?’ he asked, a wicked glint in his eye.
Charley shook her head and began walking again, not interested in what he had to say.
‘I heard you put on a little show,’ he called after her.
‘Yeah, what of it?’
‘I saw the storm, the chaos you caused. Well, I felt it more than I saw it, but it was impressive. You’re improving.’
‘Could you please try and be a bit more patronising. I love being talked down to by barbaric monsters.’
Marcus laughed. ‘Barbaric monsters? Is that not a bit of an exaggeration?’
‘You’re a demon, aren’t you?’
‘Doesn’t automatically make me dangerous.’
‘It’s not written in stone, no. But you are dangerous, anyone with that kind of power is.’
He took a step closer to her. ‘Yeah, you’re right. That’s why you’re so deadly. All that strength, all that power coursing through your veins.’ He ran his fingers up her arm. ‘You’re lethal, Charley, a time bomb waiting to go off.’
‘I’m not like you,’ she said, pulling away. ‘My powers aren’t dark like yours are.’
‘Is that right?’ he sneered.
‘Yes, it is,’ Charley said harshly. ‘I wouldn’t use them to hurt someone.’
‘Is that why you threw a spur at Aiden then?’
‘A what?’
‘A spur. A bolt of mystical energy with the capability to kill someone on the spot. Hard things to generate, although you seemed to manage fine.’
‘That’s not what happened, it was an accident. . .’ Charley faltered. ‘How do you know about that?’
Marcus grinned. ‘I have my ways.’
‘Were you spying on me?’
‘I have better things to do with my time than watch you tear apart the boathouse. Although, seeing you pummel Aiden like that would have made my day. Once you realise you can’t keep secrets from me, I promise, we’ll get along much better.’
‘I don’t have to listen to this,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I am nothing like you. You’re a demon and I’m not. I’m good, I’m–’
‘Being a demon does not make me inhuman. Well, I guess it kind of does, but that’s not the point. It doesn’t mean I’m a villain, just like being a magician doesn’t make you a hero. They’re just words, titles. They don’t define us.’
‘How poetic,’ Charley remarked sarcastically. ‘I never said I was a hero, I just said that I’m good. What I did to Aiden was a mistake, but he’s fine. It was just–’
‘You’re powerful, Charley.’
‘I know I am. And if you don’t leave me alone, the next ‘spur’ I whip up won’t be for Aiden. And it won’t be an accident, either.’ She started walking again, her blood beginning to boil as Marcus egged her on, pushing her until she was just about at her limit.
‘Yeah, you’re strong,’ Marcus yelled after her, ‘but I’m stronger.’
All of a sudden, Charley was hit from behind with something heavy. She fell to the ground, her hands stinging as they hit the gritty pavement.
‘What the hell was that for?’ she shouted, quickly hauling herself back up.
‘I lied earlier,’ he smiled, sending her flying backwards into the hard brick wall. ‘I do wanna play.’
Charley threw her hands up, and Marcus was catapulted into the air, moments later landing in a heap on the ground.
‘Nice,’ he said to her, nodding his head. ‘Did you learn that in the beginner’s guide to magic?’ He clicked his fingers and Charley yelled out in pain as her bones began to snap one by one.
‘What are . . . you . . . doing?’ she stuttered, gritting her teeth as the pain got worse.
‘They aren’t actually breaking,’ he said, getting up, ‘just feels like they are. I can make it stop if you ask nicely.’
Charley groaned and, spotting a piece of glass a few feet away, reached out for it, eventually managing to grab it between two fingers. She launched it towards Marcus, the glass piercing his thigh. He screamed out as blood began to ooze from the wound, turning his jeans a dark, crimson colour. He pulled the glass from his leg and tossed it away, glaring at Charley as she slumped against the wall, the pain subsiding now that the spell was broken.
‘That was sore,’ he grimaced.
‘And making me feel like my bones were breaking wasn’t?’
‘Hey, you’re the one who got a big head about being so powerful. I was just bringing you down a peg. I’ve been doing this for a lot longer than you have.’
‘Then you should know to always watch your back,’ said Charley as a dustbin came crashing down on Marcus’s head. As he collapsed, Charley struggled to her feet, the effects from Marcus’s bone breaking spell still bothering her. It was a strange sensation; it didn’t hurt anymore, but there was a tingling beneath her skin. Hot, almost burning, like someone had lit a match inside her. It wasn’t sore though. She felt . . . exhilarated. She felt alive.
Leaving Marcus lying unconscious on the ground, Charley walked away. She rounded the corner, her fingers still itching with mystical energy. She could feel the magic inside her, warm and electrifying, surging through her body like a tidal wave. It was in her veins, her blood, everywhere.
She turned another corner and sighed as she saw a figure standing, leaning against an old wire fence.
‘Show off,’ he said, smiling at her startled expression.
‘No,’ Charley moaned, pressing her palms hard against her temples. ‘Will you just go away?’
‘Didn’t know you could do levitation spells,’ he said curtly, ignoring her question.
‘I can set a forest on fire, knock my kid sister out without moving and go all Moses and part the water. I don’t think making a dustbin float is that spectacular.’
‘Maybe not, but I didn’t see it coming. That’s the impressive part. I see everything coming, Charley, always.’
‘You didn’t see the glass coming,’ she said smugly, glancing back down at his leg.
‘You weren’t fighting fair though. That was a dirty trick.’
Charley laughed in amazement. ‘You think I was the one playing dirty? You were torturing me, Marcus. It was–’
‘It wasn’t real.’
‘You do remember I dislocated my shoulder recently?’
‘Yeah, and then your golden boy fixed it for you.’
Charley didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to bring Aiden into the conversation, to give Marcus any more ammunition than he already had.
‘You’re a puzzle, Charley, that’s for sure.’
‘Well, go home and try to work me out then, because that’s where I’m going: home, away from you.’
Marcus stepped in front of her, blocking her path as she tried to leave.
‘Get out of my way, Marcus.’
‘Make me,’ he grinned.
‘Fine.’ She pressed her hand against his chest, but before she had the chance to do anything, he grabbed it and twisted, knocking her off balance so that she
landed clumsily on the ground.
She jumped to her feet, dizzy from the fall and sore from the way Marcus had grabbed her.
‘That hurt,’ she yelled, launching enough energy his way to send him hurtling into the fence. He didn’t budge. She tried again, but the same thing happened, the force merely ruffling his coat.
‘Come on, you must have more than that, little witch,’ he laughed. ‘Maybe I was wrong about you. Maybe you aren’t all that special after all.’
‘I am not a witch!’ Charley yelled, throwing everything she had at Marcus. Something flew towards him, something bright and sharp: a spur. It spun wildly, heading for his chest like an arrow darting towards a bullseye.
Marcus looked down. The spur was hovering in front of him, his power the only thing keeping it at bay.
‘Well, would you look at that? You trying to do away with me, little witch? That isn’t very nice. Saying that though, if Aiden can take a spur to the chest, I’m sure I could handle it.’
Charley wasn’t sure what to do. She hadn’t realised how strong he was, how clever and cunning. All her instincts told her to run, but there was also something in her head, whispering that it was okay, that Marcus would never cause her any real harm.
Backing away slowly, she decided to go with her gut.
‘You can run if you want, Charley. But you know I’ll just be around the next corner, waiting for you to stumble round with that innocent look on your face, as if you can’t work out how I got there. Don’t play naïve, you understand how this works. Or you’re beginning to, at least.’
‘You want to hurt me? Fine, do it. Get it over with!’ she yelled. ‘Show me what you got, demon.’
Marcus took a few steps towards her, and as he did, Charley pulled back, tripping over a lump of concrete and landing on her back.
Marcus let out a deep laugh, kneeling down so that he was leaning over her.
‘I don’t want to hurt you, Charley. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve told you that. Doesn’t mean I won’t though. I mean, come on. I can’t get bested in a fight against a newbie magician who doesn’t know half the power she has. That would just be embarrassing.’
He opened his hand, revealing the spur, and slowly the colour started to fade. The glow disappeared and it began changing shape, twisting into something she recognised: a nost.
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