by R K Dreaming
“Come in, come in,” Gwendolyn insisted. “They won’t bite!”
Juliet had Gwendolyn’s own fluffy pinkmink boa wrapped several times around her neck, hiding the bottom half of her face from view. She hesitantly took off her overlarge sunglasses to reveal huge, sad eyes in an entrancing hazel hue. She was smaller in real life than she appeared on the silver screen. Very thin and fragile in fact. She looked a bit like a lost fawn. With the dark circles beneath her eyes and her trembling mouth, she looked like she might faint away at any moment.
She was dressed from head to foot in black. Her eyes were red rimmed and puffy. Only a netted black veil covering her face was missing to perfect the look of the grieving widow.
Jeeves gave a great sigh and looked at her adoringly. She seemed uncomfortable to be the subject of his scrutiny, and when she looked at him, she quickly looked away again, her long dark lashes fluttering.
At Gwendolyn’s urging she reluctantly came towards the dining table. Felix hastily got up and pulled out a chair for her. She offered him a trembling smile as she sat down.
Percy raised her eyebrows at Felix, and said, “Gosh, what a perfect gentleman!”
The tips of his ears turned a little pink.
Percy grinned, but did him the mercy of not laughing out loud. Felix looked even more abashed to be sitting next to the famous actress than he had when Gwendolyn Prince had patted his cheeks. He had folded his hands almost nervously on his lap, and was doing his best not to stare at her.
Gwendolyn laughed, praising him, “So very charming! You have the touch of the angelli about you, my love. Am I right?” She nodded before he could respond, saying, “Of course I am! I’m always right.”
Meanwhile Juliet was gazing at everyone sat around the table one by one. When she came to Nan she gave a tremulous smile.
“Is this your daughter, Gwen?” she said in an unexpectedly husky voice. “She’s absolutely adorable.”
“Oh no, darling,” said Gwendolyn. “That sweet young thing is Nan, my daughter’s best friend. And this here is my daughter Percy.” She put a hand on Percy’s shoulder.
Juliet looked a little alarmed at this news, and again eyed Percy’s green hair with concern.
“Terrible, isn’t it?” Gwendolyn picked up a lock of Percy’s hair and twisted it around her index finger. “But she loves it. I simply don’t know why. I did try to sneakily change it when she was little, but the little tyke would have none of it! She always knew her own mind, even back then!”
Percy’s brows shot up into the air. She didn’t remember this incident, and wondered if her mother was exaggerating, as she was apt to do. Had Percy really liked her hair once? Ever since she could remember, it had been the bane of her existence, and the reason why the other kids had called her Greentop and more recently Mosshead.
Juliet was fidgeting nervously. She began twisting the big sparkly diamond ring and wedding band on her finger over and over. She shot an almost desperate look at Gwendolyn.
“Don’t worry, darling,” said Gwendolyn dismissively. “I’ve sworn them all to secrecy.” She winked.
Percy thought this was rich. This was the first time Gwendolyn had met two of Percy’s friends. For all she knew, Shara and Felix might be tattle-tales, especially with such an enormous secret as this. They weren’t, but they might have been.
Juliet, however, seemed to take Gwendolyn’s word as law. She looked very relieved.
A sneaking suspicion came into Percy’s mind. “Mum!” she said sharply. “You are not going to wipe my friend’s memories! I’m only going to tell them again anyway, so you might as well leave them alone!”
Nan, Felix, and Shara looked alarmed at this.
Gwendolyn Prince gave a weak laugh, and said, “Of course I wasn’t going to, darling.”
She glared at Percy.
Percy glared back.
Gwendolyn’s shoulders slumped a little as she realized this was going to be one of those battles that her headstrong daughter would not let her win.
“Fine, fine,” she said. “But you must remember that you’ve already given me your promises to keep this a secret. This is no laughing matter.”
Her voice became uncharacteristically serious. “Juliet’s life is in grave danger, and she is going to be staying with us for a little while until those horrible murderers have been caught and put back in jail where they belong!”
The four teenagers nodded solemnly.
Juliet had given a little sob at the mention of the men who had murdered her husband, and now she was covering her mouth with a white handkerchief. She seemed to be embarrassed at the sound she had made and was avoiding their gazes.
“I’ve promised Juliet my protection,” Gwendolyn continued, “and a safe place to stay. So if I find out that any of you have told a soul, I shall wipe your memories, even yours Persephone, and the memories of everyone that you’ve told, and darn the consequences!”
Percy was impressed with her mother’s uncharacteristic determined. Heroism even. She had always been fiercely loyal towards her friends. This was one of the things Percy liked most about her.
It seemed Juliet Jolie did too, going by the glowing, adoring look she was giving her.
Nan’s eyes had gone wide and sympathetic. There was even a tear sparkling in them.
“I’m terribly sorry about the loss of your husband, Mrs Jolie,” she said.
Nan’s sympathy was too much for Juliet Jolie, whose face fell. She gave a half sob and quickly caught herself before she started crying. She discreetly wiped her nose with her handkerchief, as if hoping no one would notice what she was doing.
“Thank you,” she murmured huskily. “And you can call me Juliet. You won’t… You won’t tell anyone I’m here?” She swallowed hard.
The four teenagers and Jeeves all nodded, and rushed to assure her that her secret was safe with them.
Juliet took a deep trembling breath and exhaled slowly. A little color seemed to come back into her cheeks.
“Thank you,” she said gratefully. “I feel better already. When Gwen offered to keep me safe, I thought who better than my dear friend, and such a remarkable witch too!”
She reached out to clasp Gwendolyn’s hand. Her eyes glowed as she looked up at Gwendolyn, who beamed, and bent down to plant a kiss on her forehead.
“You look done in from all our travels, dear,” Gwendolyn said. “Why don’t we send you off to bed with a nice hot chocolate?”
Juliet laughed. “Now that really is the mother of a teenager speaking,” she said, her smile finally a real one. “I’m sure you can do something a little better than a hot chocolate?”
Gwendolyn winked at her. “Your wish is Jeeves’s command.”
Jeeves bowed, and looked immensely pleased at having the chance to serve Hollywood’s beloved Juliet Jolie herself. Percy knew that if only he could boast about it to his friends, this would have been one of the happiest moments of his afterlife.
He looked like he was bursting to ask her a thousand questions. However, he bit his tongue and hurried off to prepare a guest bedroom, no doubt the finest one, and pour her the desired nightcap. Some minutes later he returned, and escorted Juliet Jolie up to bed.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Gwendolyn Prince sagged down into a chair and heaved out an enormous sigh.
“Goodness me,” she exclaimed. “I’m simply exhausted, darlings. The poor thing has been crying for days. It’s been so hard to keep a cheerful face on for her all day long. Heaven knows I’ve tried, but I simply haven’t been able to talk her out of it. This change of scene is just what she needs. Thank goodness we’re home.”
She reached for the teapot to pour herself a fresh cup, and looked dismayed to find it already empty.
Nan exclaimed, “Mrs Prince, I can’t believe that Juliet Jolie is one of your friends. We read all about what happened to her in the news. It’s unbelievable! It’s so nice of you to help her!”
Percy rounded on her mother. “I can’
t believe you’ve brought her here. Why haven’t you handed her over to the Conclave of Magic so that they can keep her safe?”
“She doesn’t trust anyone but me,” said Gwendolyn loftily. “The poor thing is in such a fright.”
“In a fright because her life is in danger!” said Percy. “And now so is yours!”
“Nonsense,” said Gwendolyn.
“You know too many people,” said Percy. “They’ll all want to come and see you now you’re home. You’re not going to be able to keep this a secret.”
“I’ve managed so far, haven’t I?” said Gwendolyn irritably. “Nobody will find out. Anyway, she begged me to not leave her, so what could I do?”
“Say no?” said Percy grumpily.
She had been looking forward to having the house all to herself so she could hang out with her friends during the half term break from school this week. First on the agenda had been to plot how to sneak Shara and Felix into Magicwild Market. That would have been very amusing indeed. And now her mum was home with a fugitive house guest, and all Percy’s plans were crumbling to dust before her eyes.
“Percy!” chided Nan. She looked astonished that Percy was being so selfish about this whole thing.
Even Shara and Felix looked a bit surprised.
“What!” Percy retorted. “She’s a fugitive. I’m just saying maybe this isn’t the best place for her to be!”
“I do not appreciate you taking that tone with me, young lady!” said Gwendolyn sharply. “It’s not been all fun and games for me, you know. I’m not one to say anything unkind, but I will tell you that other people’s grief is extremely tedious. I’ve had a horrible day! And to think Juliet used to be such fun. Now all she can talk about is Brad this and Brad that. So if you don’t help me think up ways to cheer her up, I don’t know what I’ll do! I’m determined that we shall soon have her back to her old fun self.”
“The conclave is frantic to find her,” said Percy heatedly. “It’s been all over the Witching Wireless. They’re offering a huge reward for anyone with any information on her whereabouts. Have you told them that she is with you?”
Nan might think it was very generous of Gwendolyn Prince to bring the terrified actress into her home, but Percy did not have such a high opinion of her mother’s selfless nature. There had to be a reason why her mother was doing this.
“Most certainly not,” said Gwendolyn sharply. “Juliet fears that there might be a mole inside the Conclave of Magic itself.”
Spotting Juliet’s untouched cup of tea, Gwendolyn moved over to the seat recently vacated by Juliet and picked it up. She took a big sip of it and gave a deep sigh, as if all the weight of the world was on her shoulders.
“A mole?” scoffed Percy.
Gwendolyn continued as if Percy had not spoken. “A mole who is leaking information. After all, nobody knows how those two convicts managed to escape. Or how they managed to get past all of the security measures in Juliet’s house and kill her poor husband! What a waste. Oh how the world will miss Bradley Jolie.”
She shook her head as if she was still astonished that Brad Jolie was dead.
Percy felt a pang. She hadn’t realized that her mum had known Brad Jolie personally.
Nan nodded sadly. “Poor Brad Jolie. How horrible to die like that. Is it true what the news is saying? That it was Juliet that the Sheedy’s were after, and not her husband?”
“There’s no question about it, dear,” said Gwendolyn. “You’ve read all about it in the news, haven’t you?”
Percy and Nan and Felix all nodded, but Shara shook her head.
She said hesitantly, “Erm, sort of?” in a manner that made it clear she hoped that someone would tell her the bits she was missing.
The whole school had been gossiping about the Hollywood murder all week, but Shara had been distracted recently. Caring for her very ill baby brother had taken up all of her family’s time and energy. She had only just today told Percy, Nan and Felix that a cure had finally been found due to a miraculous happenstance.
Gwendolyn did not need to be asked for the story twice. She launched into it with zeal.
“You will have heard that two convicts escaped from prison?” she started, raising her eyebrows at Shara.
Shara nodded.
Gwendolyn continued, “It was the most horrible shock for Juliet when she heard. As soon as the two escaped from jail — er, what were their names Percy, darling?”
“How am I supposed to know?” said Percy irritably.
“Fred and George Sheedy,” said Nan quickly. “First cousins!”
Gwendolyn nodded. “As soon as they escaped from prison, the Conclave of Magic contacted poor Juliet to warn her that her life might be in danger. After all, her terrible ex-husband—”
“Hank Hyde,” said Nan.
“—was a thief,” said Gwendolyn. “Nine years ago he and the two Sheedy cousins robbed the Draekvault itself!”
“They didn’t rob the Draekvault,” said Felix thoughtfully. “The Draekvault is impenetrable.”
He blushed when Gwendolyn shot him an irritated look.
“As good as though,” said Nan eagerly, her eyes wide with excitement as she explained to Shara. “The Draekvault is guarded by draekins — the kin of dragons — so they wouldn’t have dared to rob it. They waited until the loot had left the Draekvault and had been handed over to its owners. The robbery took place just outside.”
Gwendolyn cleared her throat loudly, looking a little annoyed at having her tale hijacked in this manner. Nan flushed and fell silent.
“It was an unbelievably daring heist,” said Gwendolyn, “and the three thieves got away with an immensely valuable haul. Hundreds of ampoules of wildmagic itself!”
“Wow,” whispered Shara.
It seemed that even the finfolk were in awe of wildmagic — the raw and powerful magic that came from the world of the Magicwild itself.
Nan shot Percy a significant look. The four teenagers had just been discussing the Magicwild, having just discovered that it might be the very place where Percy’s long lost father lived.
Gwendolyn looked gratified at Shara’s awe. “Two of the thieves—”
“Wait, sorry,” said Shara. “The thieves were all wizards? Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“So Hank Hyde was a wizard, but Juliet’s new husband Brad was an incubus,” murmured Shara thoughtfully. “I didn’t know she’d been married before.”
“Have you been buried under a rock, dear?” said Gwendolyn despairingly. “Or out to sea, I suppose one would say with your kind?”
“Mother,” said Percy in a warning tone. She turned to Shara and explained, “After the heist, Juliet met Brad Jolie and married him.”
“I don’t know how you didn’t know all this, dear,” said Gwendolyn. “Brad was one of the world’s most famous actors. Won an Academy Award and everything. And all of the Humbles love him, but of course they would.” She rolled her eyes.
Shara blushed, her grey cheeks turning a very faint shade of pink, but she did not tell Gwendolyn that she had known at least this much and perhaps had even had her own little crush on Brad Jolie. Nor did she mention that her ignorance about the details of the case stemmed from being in hospital helping to care for her brother.
Gwendolyn continued, “As I was saying, two of the thieves, the Sheedys, were caught by the Conclave of Magic the very night of the heist. They were jailed, but the hoard of stolen magic was never found and they would never tell anyone where it was!”
“What happened to the third thief?” said Shara hesitantly, as if afraid that Gwendolyn might tell her off again.
“Died during the getaway,” said Gwendolyn. “And served him right! Can you imagine poor Juliet’s shock when watch witches from the conclave turned up in the middle of the night, banging on her door, to inform her that her beloved husband was not only dead, but that she had been married to a common thief of all things? One with the temerity to try and pull off the heis
t of the century? It was a mercy in a way that he was dead. Poor Juliet was able to move on with her life and make something of herself, rather than being shackled to a convict.”
Gwendolyn Prince shuddered in disgust and anger.
“Why did the Sheedys come after her?” said Percy. “Do they think she knows where the hoard of wildmagic is?”
“Of course not!” said Gwendolyn. “They’ve got the hoard hidden away, you mark my words. They just want to kill poor Juliet to tie up any loose ends in case that horrible Hank told her anything that could get them caught. It’s why the conclave wants to find her. They think she can help them catch the Sheedys and put them back where they belong.”
“And the Sheedys got Brad instead of Juliet?” said Shara in a shocked voice.
“Yes,” said Gwendolyn brightly. “Poor Brad must not have known what hit him. Imagine being accosted by two wizards in the middle of the night and having no wand-magic yourself. A horribly helpless way to die. And all the while Juliet was at a late dinner with a director. She was talking him into giving her a role in the new Bond movie. Thank goodness she wasn’t home. I dread to think what they would have done to her.”
“Did she get it?” asked Shara looking excited at this possibility.
“What?”
“The role.”
“Of course she did! Or as good as. But she’s missed the screen test because of all this, and now they’ve cast someone else. Heartless of them! She always wanted to be a Bond girl. Poor Juliet.”
“Maybe if she had been home her husband would have lived,” said Percy thoughtfully.
“Persephone Prince,” said her mother sharply. “Never let Juliet hear you saying that. Do you think that she isn’t wracked with guilt at the very thought? I’ve spent days persuading her not to dwell on it.”
“Does Juliet know anything that can help the conclave catch the Sheedys?” said Percy.
Gwendolyn shook her head. “Juliet has wracked her brains. It keeps the poor thing up at nights. She can hardly sleep thinking about it. But she can’t imagine what it is that the Sheedy’s think that she knows. That frightful Hank Hyde never told her anything about that side of his life. He’d told her he’d got a new job working as a clerk at Elfpotts Bank. She was so proud of him!”