‘We don’t have time. We’ll just have to leave it.’
Quinn shook her head. ‘Marcus gave us that for a reason. Don’t you think it might be important?’
‘We don’t have enough time, Quinn. Besides, Aiden would kill us if we let Charley go back by herself.’
‘I’ll go. I won’t be long. You two keep going and I’ll be back before you know it.’
‘Quinn, you know we shouldn’t split up.’
‘I’ll be back before you even get to the woods, I promise. I just think we should take all the help we can get right now.’
Dru sighed. ‘Fine, but don’t spend ages looking for it. If you can’t find it, you get your arse back here pronto, understand?’
‘Yes, Dru, I understand.’ Quinn rolled her eyes. She gave Charley’s hand a quick squeeze and said, ‘Sisters, who’d have ‘em?’ before dashing back down the street.
‘So we just keep going?’ Charley asked, her stomach even more unsettled now that it was just the two of them.
‘We keep going,’ Dru agreed.
They carried on in silence. Every now and then, Charley would glance at her phone to see if Marcus or Aiden had called. She wondered if they’d found Judith, or if Marcus had worked out where she was yet. She also hoped that they’d managed not to kill each other in the process.
‘Stay behind me when we get there,’ Dru instructed. ‘If we see her then I want . . .’
She stopped though as Charley suddenly fell to the ground, her head hitting the pavement and her phone shattering as it landed on the tarmac.
‘Charley? Charley!’
Dru swore in frustration. Things were slowly deteriorating as the day went on. ‘Well this is just spectacular.’ She cradled Charley’s head in her hands, frowning as she looked down at her. ‘A sleeping spell?’ she muttered, thinking back to Linda lying frozen on the couch. Charley looked the same.
‘If she’s cast a sleeping spell, that means she can’t be far . . .’ Dru looked towards the forest, now only a minute or two away. ‘Guess it’s just you and me then, Judy.’
Dru somehow managed to carry Charley into one of the nearby gardens and laid her down under a hedge. She looked rather uncomfortable but at least she was safe – well, as safe as one could be with raging demons on the loose.
‘Hang in there, Charley. I’ll go get your sister for you.’
And then Dru was gone, running towards the mass of trees in front of her. Alone.
Charley opened her eyes, everything around her a blur. Her skin was itchy, piping hot and tingling as though she’d been sitting in the sun for too long.
It’s November, she thought to herself, desperately scratching at her arms. Something’s not right.
She got up from the ground and began walking, with absolutely no idea where she was or how she’d got there. She didn’t recognise the place at all.
‘Lost, are you, dear?’ Charley spun around to see Judith standing behind her.
‘What did you . . . how did . . . where am I?’ Charley stuttered, her head whirling. She didn’t understand what was happening.
‘You’re sleeping. Don’t worry, this is just a dream. By the time you wake up, it’ll all be over. I’ll have my Bud back. Your sister will be alive again.’
‘Jess is my sister,’ Charley hissed.
‘Yes, well I am sorry about that, but I’m afraid it can’t be helped. If I could have found another way, I wouldn’t have involved Jessica. She’s essential though. I can let you see her just now if you’d like? You can say goodbye.’
‘How can you . . .? No, I will not say goodbye to her. She isn’t going anywhere.’
‘Oh, Charley, don’t be stubborn. This might be the last chance you get.’
‘Where is she? How can you bring her here?’
Judith put her hand on Charley’s forehead. ‘Why, sweetheart, all I have to do is simply manipulate your mind, make you see things that aren’t really here. Show you things you want to see but can’t.’
‘It won’t work . . . leave me alone, it’s not going to work.’
‘Of course it will work, Charley, I’ve done it before. Don’t you remember that lovely visit you had from the white-haired girl? Quinn, isn’t it?’
Charley’s eyes widened. ‘That was you? But why
. . . ?’
‘Just a little bit of fun. Oh, it was marvellous, hearing your screams echo through the air as your handsome young man put you back together again. And how did you repay him? Why, you nearly killed him with a spur, didn’t you? How he survived that, I’ll never know.’
‘You were watching me . . . messing with me the whole time – that’s how Marcus knew. You pushed Abbie from the roof as well, didn’t you?’
Judith smirked and put her hands in the air. ‘Guilty.’
‘Why? What did Abbie ever do? Was it meant to be me?’
‘Oh no, dear, it was always your friend I intended to push. Again, just something to amuse myself with, and to keep you out of the way. You really do like to stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong, don’t you?’
‘You’re a monster,’ Charley spat.
‘Yes, I’ve heard that a few times. I remember that was one of your gran’s favourite phrases. Dear old Dorcas. Such a shame she had to go and die like that.’ Judith smiled cruelly at Charley. ‘Like I said, busybodies, always getting in the way. If you’re not careful, you might end up like little old granny.’
‘It was you . . . you summoned the nost that killed my gran.’
‘And what fun it was! Did you enjoy watching her die? Writhing in pain, lungs filling up, choking, drowning in her own blood. That’s pretty much how it was, isn’t it? You see, I wasn’t invited to the live performance. I saw the preview when I went to her house, but somehow, it wasn’t quite the same.’
‘Her house? When were you at her house?’ Charley froze. ‘The day I found her . . . you’re the reason she looked so scared. She told me she’d just blacked out . . .’
‘She also told you that you were telekinetic, that her mother was telekinetic. And that she had no powers. Don’t you think it would have been better if she’d just told you the truth to start with?’
‘I don’t understand . . .’ Charley shook her head. ‘How did you know my gran?’
‘I didn’t, not personally. My mother knew her.’
Charley wanted to scream. ‘Why am I just finding out that everyone’s mother was friends with my gran?’
‘Oh, your gran and my mother weren’t friends. More like sworn enemies. Your gran was always trying to foil her plans, put an end to her evil deeds, shall we say. Your gran murdered my mother when I was three years old, right in front of my eyes. When my father told me, when I was old enough to understand, I vowed that I would find the woman who took away my mother and put a stop to her, once and for all.’
‘If my gran really did kill your mum, she wouldn’t have done it without a perfectly good reason.’
‘She had reasons, darling, plenty of them. That still doesn’t change the fact that she left me without a mother.’
‘Well you’re about to leave my mother without a daughter,’ Charley countered.
‘Indeed.’ Judith looked at Charley pensively, then her lips began to curl into a wide, toothy smile. ‘Like I said, these things can’t be helped. Do say hello to my son for me when you wake up, won’t you? I doubt he’ll speak to me again after this. Shame, I really thought I could count on that boy.’
‘Marcus hates you,’ Charley growled. ‘You used him. You’re the reason he did all those things. He thinks he’s nothing because of you.’
‘For someone in a healthy, happy relationship, you seem awfully concerned about my son. Aren’t you angry? He did try to kill your sister, after all. Well, his sister.’
‘What Marcus planned to do was appalling, but it was
you who made him do it. You put ideas in his head, told him he could get Bud back. He didn’t deserve to be manipulated like that.’
‘No, I guess not.’ Judith checked her watch. ‘Well, would you look at the time? I better be going – places to be, people to kill, you know how it goes. Goodbye, Charley, I really do hope things work out for you in the future.’
Before she could reply, Judith was gone, her exit sending Charley flying backwards, depositing her hopelessly in a heap on the ground.
‘No!’ Charley cried once she realised she was alone. ‘I need to wake up, I have to wake up!’
She began pinching herself, slapping her face until her cheeks were red and stinging. It wasn’t working though. She was stuck in her dream with no way out. No escape, and no way to get to Jess.
She let her head fall as she finally realised she’d lost. She didn’t know if Dru had kept going or if Quinn had returned. She wasn’t even sure what had happened – the last thing she remembered was walking along the street with Dru.
Were Aiden and Marcus okay? Had they discovered where Judith was yet, where she’d taken Jess?
She felt so helpless. Jess needed her, now more than ever, and she was taking a bloody nap.
‘I’m so stupid!’ Charley yelled, punching the ground in anger. It didn’t hurt. She didn’t feel a thing.
‘I wouldn’t say that, darling.’
At first Charley thought she was hearing things. She shook her head, trying to make the voice disappear.
‘What are you doing, Charley? Why are you still here?’
This time she knew she’d heard it, and not just in her head. She looked up.
‘Gran?’
‘Hello, Charlotte, dear.’
‘Is . . . is it really you?’
‘It’s me, honey.’
‘Oh, Gran.’ Charley ran to her gran and hugged her, squeezing as tightly as she possibly could. She could feel everything this time. She could feel her gran’s hand on the back of her neck; the fuzzy material of her itchy, grey sweater; her breath, warm on her cheek. ‘What are you doing here? Is this Judith, making me see you? You’re just an illusion, aren’t you?’
‘I am just an illusion, Charley, yes. But Judith didn’t send me. I’m here because you need my help.’
‘Can you get me out of here? Out of the dream?’
‘You can do that yourself, Charley. That’s not what I meant. I’m here to give you something.’
‘What?’
‘When you wake up, you’re going to go straight to the woods. That’s where Judith is, that’s where she has Jess. You can beat her, Charley, I know you don’t think you can but it is possible. You just have to believe in yourself.’
‘Gran, I can’t. I’m not strong enough to take on someone so powerful. I couldn’t even beat Marcus and his powers are nothing compared to hers.’
‘That’s why I’m here. You know what I was. You know I used to be just like you. Well, when I died, when Judith . . .’ Dorcas didn’t say the rest. ‘My magic was restored, my powers returned to me. I’m here to give them to you.’
‘What? You got them back? You’re . . . you’re giving me your powers?’
Dorcas gave her a warm smile. ‘I don’t need them now, not where I am. You take them, sweetheart, and you use them. Understand? You’re the only one who can end this.’
‘Why did you never tell me? About being a magician . . .’
‘I never thought I needed to. I was always going to be there to help you understand what you were, but I didn’t feel that burrowing into my past would do any good.’
‘Why’d you tell me I was telekinetic? The first time I asked, the first time I told you about my powers . . . you could have just told me straight up. Why did you lie to me?’
‘I didn’t want to frighten you. Not everybody accepts things the way you did. Some people try to hide from it, fight who they are. You, on the other hand, you grabbed on to it with both hands, you recognised what you were, who you were, and you embraced it. I am so proud of you, my darling.’
Dorcas put her hands on Charley’s cheeks and kissed her forehead. ‘Give me your hand.’
Charley did as her gran asked, stretching her arm out in front of her. Dorcas gently grasped it.
‘What’s happening?’ Charley asked, as a strange yellow light began to travel down Dorcas’s arm, into her hand and then finally to Charley.
When the light faded, Dorcas smiled and said, ‘You’re strong enough now, Charley. It’s time to go.’
Aiden panicked as he looked at Garth, still holding Marcus in place on the ceiling. His eyes were like hollow pits, empty and dark, gaping at his son struggling before him.
Aiden raised his hand, dazing Garth who was blasted backwards, landing painfully on the table. Marcus fell to the floor, also landing with a thump.
‘Cheers for being so gentle,’ he griped.
‘My pleasure,’ Aiden smirked, but even so, he offered Marcus a hand, helping him to his feet. ‘What do we do?’
‘We don’t have much choice. We fight him.’
‘I thought you said your dad was a decent guy?’
‘He is. Well, he was.’ Garth was up again, sneering as he stood in front of them. ‘What’s going on, Dad?’
‘I’m just making sure you don’t do anything stupid, Marcus. Let your mother finish her work, then we can discuss this.’
‘Her work? Do you realise what it is she’s trying to do? She’s going to kill Jess. Her daughter. Your daughter. If we don’t go now, it’ll be too late.’
‘I know exactly what she’s doing. She thinks I’m so blind that I can’t see through her, work out what she’s scheming. I’ve known for weeks, Marcus, I was just biding my time, waiting for the opportune moment. I knew she would need my help.’ Garth’s eyes widened. ‘Your mum’s not the only one who has very little faith in you, son. I knew you’d bottle it.’
‘You knew what she was planning? You knew she was going to try and kill Jess and you just let it happen?’
‘You’re one to talk. You are the one who summoned the nost after all.’
Marcus tried to hide the guilt he was feeling, but it was written plainly on his face.
He didn’t answer, so Garth continued. ‘I want Bud back as much as your mother does. You have to make a few sacrifices for the things you desire.’
‘Jess isn’t your sacrifice to make.’
‘Even so, I’m afraid I can’t let you leave. Not until it’s done.’
‘Let’s make a run for it,’ Aiden whispered, deciding that it was a better idea than sticking around to let Garth obliterate them.
‘Don’t be a pansy, Aiden. He’ll only . . .’
‘Duck,’ Aiden murmured.
‘What? Have you . . .?’
‘Get down!’ Aiden threw himself towards Marcus, the pair of them plunging to the ground, just as Garth threw a ball of fire towards where they’d been standing.
‘Oh, Aiden, darling, buy me a drink first, eh?’ Marcus jeered, jammed between Aiden and the floor. ‘I don’t normally kiss on the first date, never mind–’
‘No, you don’t normally make it to the date part,’ Aiden snapped, clambering to his feet. ‘You just go after other guys’ girls when they’re alone and vulnerable.’
‘Charley’s far from vulnerable,’ Marcus retorted, throwing a fireball back towards his father. ‘She’s as hard as nails and you know it.’
Aiden glared at him and before he could stop it, a vase was flying across the room, clouting Marcus in the face.
‘What was that for, you half-wit?’ Marcus groaned, stumbling as he tried to stand up.
‘Sorry, it was an accident.’
‘My arse it was,’ Marcus snorted, as another fireball narrowly missed him.
‘That’s the way we’re gonna play it then, D
ad?’
‘I guess so,’ Garth smirked, readying his hand for another blazing bomb.
‘Oh well, you know what they say. Fight fire with fire.’
Marcus stood stock still, his hands suddenly bursting into flames. Aiden gaped at him, the fire slowly making its way up Marcus’s arms, orange wisps crawling along his sleeves. He smiled at his father before flinging his arms forward, setting the whole kitchen alight. Garth howled at the insufferable heat, his face contorting as the flames swallowed him.
‘Now we can go,’ Marcus said, pushing Aiden towards the door.
They ran outside, stopping to check that Garth wasn’t behind them. He wasn’t.
‘I can do that, too, you know,’ Aiden huffed.
‘Do what?’
‘Set things on fire.’ Aiden held out his hand and a small flame appeared in his palm, flickering like a tiny candle.
Marcus threw his head back and laughed. ‘You call that fire?’ he said, blowing on the tiny flame which immediately trebled in size. ‘I’m a demon, Aiden, we’re practically made of fire. That’s one fight you’re not gonna win.’
Aiden shrugged his shoulders in defeat and said, ‘Shall we go?’
Marcus was silent for a moment, his dark eyes seeming a million miles away, and Aiden noticed him glance back inside – back towards Garth. ‘Well, I don’t have a huge desire to stay and watch my house burn to the ground. Let’s get out of here.’
Dru made her way through the forest, keeping a close eye out for any signs of Judith. So far, all was quiet, but that didn’t mean anything. Judith was in the woods somewhere, Dru was sure of it. She just had to find her . . .
She stopped, spotting something silver and sparkly, glistening between the leaves. She bent down to pick it up: a bracelet, small and stretchy with a heart dangling from its strings.
‘This could easily belong to a fourteen-year-old,’ she murmured, turning the bracelet over. There was a J engraved on the other side of the heart. ‘Okay, that makes it simple.’ She pocketed the bracelet and kept on walking, this time treading more carefully.
Charley Chambers Page 30