‘It’s OK. So-so,’ Kizzy said, purposely downplaying her success. The truth was, Kizzy’s power had accelerated quickly. Her control was growing stronger, and her visions were noticeably sharper and more precise. In fact, she’d been seeing more than she could have anticipated – including some unnerving images, many of which she felt she should warn Mia of. But something held her back.
Across the room, two other new friends sat together deliberating their own skills. Dino and Blue…and a tower of buttons.
Blue stretched out his fingers. ‘One more t-try,’ he decided. Evidently on edge, he sprinkled a dusting of ciron thistle into the palm of his hand. He clamped his fingers down over it and tapped the closed fist.
‘Well?’ Dino asked, feigning hope.
Blue cursed at the little brown button that nestled in his palm. ‘This must be the h-hundredth one t-today,’ he muttered dejectedly.
‘Nah.’ Dino subtly kicked a pile of buttons beneath the sofa. ‘There hasn’t been that many.’
Blue stared despondently at the button in his hand. His honey-coloured eyes were bleak.
‘Don’t worry about it. Who cares?’ Dino picked up a deck of cards and began skilfully shuffling them. ‘Wanna play Switch?’
Blue looked down at the button once more, then threw it in frustration. It became apparent to him that he must have lobbed it harder than he had intended, because it soared across the room and hit a boy in the back of the head.
‘Hey! Who did that?’ the boy yelled, scanning the room for his assailant. Then he noticed the button lying dormant on the floor. ‘Oh, right!’ he cackled loudly. ‘Button boy! Hey, loser!’ he shouted to Blue. ‘Keep your buttons to yourself!’
Blue bowed his head in shame.
But Dino’s reaction was quite different. He slammed the deck of cards down against the coffee table. ‘You better watch your mouth, Patterson!’ he threatened the boorish boy.
‘Oh, yeah? What are you gonna do about it?’ the boy retorted.
Dino leapt from his seat and strode across the room.
Unsurprisingly, the loudmouth boy began to lose some of his bravado. ‘Hey, relax,’ he said anxiously. ‘It was just a joke.’
All of a sudden, everyone in the room fell silent, their eyes fixed on Dino with a mixture of alarm and excitement. Mia sprung to her feet, rushing to her brother’s side.
‘Dino! Calm down!’ she ordered, grasping his arm before he could reach his rival.
Dino glanced at her briefly and shook free from her hold.
Soon Blue and Kizzy were both on the scene, too.
‘Forget h-him,’ Blue urged.
Dino grimaced. Why were they all jumping on him like this? I’m not the one in the wrong, he thought.
Mia renewed her clasp on his arm. ‘Look,’ she said, ‘you’ve made your point.’ Her eyes drifted to the boy who was now cowered behind a chair, half-heartedly trying to retain some of his masculinity by occasionally puffing out his chest.
‘Aaron Patterson,’ Kizzy grumbled under her breath. ‘He’s such a moron. I say hit him!’
‘Kizzy!’ Mia exclaimed.
She grinned. ‘Sorry.’
Dino relaxed slightly. Until then, he hadn’t even realised how taut his shoulders had been.
Aaron cleared his throat. ‘Chill, man. I was only having a bit of fun. It was a joke.’
‘A joke?’ Dino scowled. ‘Didn’t seem like a joke to me.’ He reluctantly allowed Mia to drag him back to his seat, where he slumped irritably. Gradually the rest of the room lost interest in the fracas and the former indistinct drone of chatter resumed.
‘I should have hit him,’ Dino muttered tersely.
‘Why?’ Mia questioned. ‘So you can prove what a big man you are?’
‘No,’ he glared at her. ‘So I can prove what a big man he isn’t.’
Blue laughed quietly at the statement.
The response brought a smile to Dino’s lips. ‘That Patterson’s an idiot,’ he remarked complacently, more to Blue than anyone else.
Dino wasn’t the only one whose attention was on Blue. Kizzy appeared to be observing him as though she recognised him from somewhere. ‘You’re Benny Blue,’ she said at last. ‘The Conjurer, right?’
Blue nodded his head.
‘Wendolyn mentioned there was a Conjurer here.’ Kizzy held out her hand amiably. ‘My name’s Kizzy.’
‘I know,’ Blue admitted shyly. He shook her hand.
Dino propped his elbow up on the arm of the chair and rested his head on his fist. ‘Blue, this is my sister, Mia,’ he said with obvious disinterest.
‘Hi, Blue,’ Mia acknowledged him, but her eyes were still on Dino.
‘Drop it, Mia,’ Dino grumbled under his breath.
She raised her eyebrows at him.
‘You know what?’ Dino snapped at her, dropping his arm down sharply. ‘You can stop thinking your feelings of disapproval. Because I can hear them loud and clear. And it’s annoying.’
‘Stop telling me what to think and feel!’ she cried. ‘Get out of my head!’
‘Get out of mine!’ Dino shouted back.
Mia folded her arms crossly. ‘It’s not my fault that you’re–’
‘Seriously!’ Dino bellowed at her. ‘Get away from me!’
Mia bit her tongue to stop herself from verbally opening fire on him – it was either that or bursting into tears. She held her dignity and simply turned and walked away.
‘Mia!’ Kizzy called after her.
‘I’m OK,’ Mia insisted as Kizzy trotted up to her. ‘I need to…I don’t know…take a walk or something. I need to get away from him.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ Kizzy offered. ‘I’ll grab my coat.’ She glanced over to the window where her raincoat lay sprawled out on the floor, still drenched from her last outing. She grimaced at the downpour beyond the window.
‘No,’ Mia replied. ‘Stay here. I’m fine, honestly.’
Kizzy furrowed her brow. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yep.’ Mia nodded and faked a cheery smile.
Although Kizzy wasn’t fooled, she surrendered and waved goodbye as Mia paced out of the room.
Mia left the shelter of the castle and carelessly wandered out into the pouring rain. Within a matter of seconds she was thoroughly drenched. Her delicate cream jumper was instantly saturated and it clung uneasily to her skin, weighed down by the overload of water. Her chocolate-brown hair hung in thick darkened tresses, dripping down her back.
None of this bothered her. She forged on across the abandoned courtyard and through the hedge archway. She hadn’t been back to the forest since her late-night encounter with Wendolyn, and she didn’t intend ever going back, either. She just needed to get out of the castle for a while, even if that meant roaming around the gardens in the rain.
As she weaved in and out of the flower beds, she began to notice how grim everything seemed. The neat rows of dainty pink flowers drooped sadly in the flooded soil, struggling to stand tall as the rain hammered down on them. High above, the murky sky swirled and churned.
Mia suddenly realised how desperately she wanted to leave the Glass Castle. She wanted to go home. Besides, what reason was there for her to be there? As far as she was concerned, she had no power. And even if she was wrong, her power was inactive anyway, so what was the difference?
The pattering sound of rain echoed all around her, louder and more defined than she had ever heard before. It was almost as though it was raining just for her, and speaking to her in a secret language that she felt obliged to understand. In fact, she felt as though she should have been able to understand it, but for some reason couldn’t.
Of course I can’t understand it! she reminded herself with a little laugh. It’s just rain. It’s not speaking to me.
Still lost in her own thoughts, Mia reached the embankment that signified the end of the gardens. The forest was in sight now, vast and brooding in the dismal weather. Wary of straying too far away from Arcana territory,
Mia stopped walking and sat down on the ridge of the embankment. What had once been parched soil with dry grass yellowed by the sun was now soggy mud that stained her jumper and jeans.
Mia pushed her wet hair back from her face and wiped the dipping rain from her eyes. It was a pointless act, because the rain continued to pour, trickling down her cheeks like tears. And that was exactly what it felt like – all of the tears that she wanted to cry but was unable to. It was as though the rain was crying for her, releasing all of the pent-up emotion that had been bottled inside. In some ways, feeling the water on her face gave her a much needed sense of freedom, and she didn’t want it to stop.
She gazed around the land. Beyond the embankment, the forest stood staunchly behind its silvery mist. A natural curiosity held her focus to it. She was at a safe enough distance to really study it, and she couldn’t resist indulging in the temptation of doing so. After all, the forest held such mystery – it was impossible not to be intrigued by it. But the longer she watched it, the more uncomfortable it made her. Suddenly she felt extremely exposed, as though she was no longer simply watching, but was, in fact, being watched.
Mia glanced around, intimidated by the thought of eyes upon her. There was no one around; she was alone. Although perhaps that wasn’t a good thing.
When she looked back to the forest, the rain before her eyes seemed to distort her vision. It was as though the flow of rainfall was different somehow. And as it progressively worsened, she could barely see her own hand in front of her face. Now, the rain was no longer falling straight down, but rather it was dropping diagonally and in zigzag patterns, as though it had been caught in a ferocious whirlwind.
A familiar breeze caressed her wet hair. Mia stiffened instinctively. A Hunter was near.
Scrambling to her feet, she started to run, but blinded by the wild rain she could not make out her path. There was no time to get her bearings so she kept on running, silently praying that she was on course for the castle.
With some relief she noticed the waterlogged flower beds beneath her feet as she unwittingly trampled on them. At least now she knew that she was heading in the right direction. But her relief was premature, because with an unexpected smack she collided into something solid. For a moment she wondered if she’d run into one of the hedges. However, it quickly became clear that it wasn’t, because whatever it was grabbed her, its fingers pressing into her arms. Through the barrier of rain, Mia glimpsed a pair of deep-green eyes looking down upon her. It was Colt.
Terrified and disoriented, Mia kicked out at him until her foot impacted with his shin. Colt didn’t seem particularly affected, but nevertheless he submissively relinquished his hold on her. Almost too submissively.
Seeing her chance for escape, Mia turned and sprinted away from him. As she dashed across the sodden grass, she could sense him behind her, somehow walking yet matching her speed effortlessly.
Then, out of nowhere, Mia felt her foot skid across the slick, muddy ground. She fell on to her back with a thud and slid downwards. It dawned on her that she was plummeting down the sloping embankment, unable to stop. Her hands groped frantically for anything that might save her from her descent, but she could only seize clumps of grass, which pitifully broke away in her clutches. As she tumbled down the incline, her jumper rose up, exposing her bare skin to the toothed, rutted ground. Finally, she reached the bottom of the slope with a thump. She lay motionless for a moment, bruised and cut.
However it wasn’t long before she was forced to move again. In a daze, she rolled over on to her side. The rain still clouded her vision, but she saw Colt pounce to the ground just inches from her face, as though he had jumped from a much greater height.
Refusing to surrender to him, Mia clambered to her feet and bolted off in the opposite direction. Even though her body ached from the brutal fall, she staggered on as fast as she could manage, out of breath and limping.
The gentle sound of wind chimes rustled somewhere to the right, and in dismay, Mia realised what she was running towards.
He’s driving me into the forest! she realised in alarm. Perhaps all along, Colt had been the sheepdog, herding the defenceless lamb into its pen. And just like a lamb, she truly was defenceless.
Panting for breath, Mia knew that she had two choices: either to succumb to the forest…or not to. She picked the latter. Following the sound of wind chimes, she changed direction and raced towards the graveyard.
The wind chimes grew louder and louder until she was directly beneath them. With a yelp, she crashed into a tall slab of stone. The hard gravestone knocked her to the ground and she slumped against it, exhausted and petrified.
All of a sudden the rain calmed and returned to its usual flow, falling downwards as nature had intended and granting her an unaltered view.
But what she saw made her wish for the distortion of before. Colt stood above her, blocking her path and cornering her against the gravestone.
He smiled.
This time there was no escape.
Chapter Six
Spangles’ Grave
As the rain pounded down, Mia crouched on the ground, her arms shielding her face and her body pressing up against the rock gravestone. She squeezed her eyes shut, preparing for Colt’s onslaught.
‘Spangles won’t like that,’ Colt said in a smooth, even voice.
Mia cautiously opened her eyes. ‘What?’
‘Spangles.’ Colt pointed to the gravestone. ‘I’m sure he wouldn’t think much of your crawling all over his grave like that.’ He raised an eyebrow, seemingly a little bored. His ebony hair was stuck flat down from the rain, but he didn’t flinch as the overspill trickled on to his face.
Reluctant to take her eyes off him, Mia quickly glanced at the headstone behind her. Sure enough, the word ‘Spangles’ had been etched into the stone.
Mia turned her attention back to Colt. ‘What are you going to do to me?’ she asked in a tiny voice.
He shrugged.
Mia’s hands flew to her throat. Was it her imagination, or could she feel the air closing in on her again?
‘Stop!’ she gasped.
Colt looked at her with a bemused expression. ‘I’m not doing anything.’
She drew in several deep breaths. Perhaps it had been her mind playing tricks on her after all.
Colt frowned. ‘How very dramatic,’ he muttered under his breath.
‘But, before…’ Mia trailed off. She blinked fearfully up at him, remembering those eyes which had locked with hers as he’d tried to choke the life out of her just days earlier.
‘The drawing room,’ Colt acknowledged. ‘I suppose you would like an apology for that.’
Mia swallowed nervously. ‘OK.’
‘It wasn’t a question.’ The corner of Colt’s mouth twitched in amusement. ‘Merely a statement.’
‘OK,’ Mia repeated, baffled by the exchange.
‘Stop that!’ he said abruptly. ‘Stop looking at me like that. Are you really that desperate for an apology? That was a question, by the way.’
‘Uh…’ Mia was taken aback. She didn’t care about an apology – she was simply confused by the interaction. Her terrifying attacker was suddenly talking to her so casually, as if they were old friends.
‘No.’ He shook his head stubbornly, raindrops spilling from the drenched strands of hair. ‘I won’t apologise. I refuse. But I will admit that I could have exercised more restraint. Happy?’
Mia held her palms skyward. ‘Um…yes?’
‘Why are you asking me?’ Colt demanded.
‘Because I have absolutely no idea what to say to you!’
Colt mumbled irritably to himself. Then, with a submissive sigh, he said, ‘The night you stole the Athame…I am willing to admit that perhaps I should have contained my temper. I’m sure I tried, but it’s quite complex. Once it starts…Anyway, I feel that’s apology enough. Shall we move on?’
‘Move on to what?’ Mia gulped. She could feel the cold, wet gravestone throu
gh her saturated jumper; try as she might, she couldn’t move back any farther. Maybe she could run, but she guessed that she wouldn’t get very far.
Colt let out a throaty chuckle. ‘Relax. I’m not here to harm you. I want to ask something of you.’
Mia’s mind raced. What could he possibly want to ask her? Was he blackmailing her? Did he want her to do his sordid biddings? ‘I won’t kill,’ she declared drastically, feeling particularly proud of her fearless display of nobility.
Colt slapped his hand to his head. ‘Oh, my god,’ he muttered. ‘Don’t be so ridiculous!’
‘Then what do you want from me?’ She tried her best to look confident and fearless– although it was difficult with rain dribbling in and out of her mouth as she spoke. ‘I am powerful,’ she bragged. ‘Yes, very powerful… Actually, I’m the most powerful witch of all time. And I am not to be tested.’
Colt wrinkled his nose. ‘Anyway,’ he went on, ‘I want you to stop the rain. I suppose I should say please. It’s not in my nature to do so, but I understand that your kind love it. So puh-lease. How did that sound? Believable?’
Mia gawped at him. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘Please. Puh-lease. That’s the correct word, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, please is the right word,’ she said distractedly. ‘I don’t understand why you’re saying it to me, though. I can’t stop the rain. It’s just a…thing.’
Colt folded his arms. ‘Why are you being difficult? I said please, didn’t I? Is this still about the incident with the Athame?’
‘No.’ Mia looked at him as though he were insane. ‘This is about me not being able to control the weather.’ For a moment, she wondered if maybe he had actually believed her proclamation about being all powerful. Am I really that convincing an actress? she mused, secretly impressed by the idea.
‘I see. You insist on being stubborn. So I suppose we all must continue to suffer.’ His dark-green eyes bore into her, patronisingly disappointed by her supposedly rebellious behaviour.