dirt road, looking at the stone cottage perched at the side of the riverbank. The water wheel continuously turns and fireflies hover above the water’s surface. The smell of freshly baked pie wafts from the open window and the sound of music accompanies it.
I smile, hearing the Irish jig playing on a music box made using a set of pins placed on a revolving disc plugging at the tuned teeth.
Lois always loved her music. She always had her music, no matter where we were or what was happening around us.
I walk towards the door and give a gentle knock.
It soon opens, and one of my favourite people answers.
‘My dear girl!’
‘Good evening, Mama Quinn.’ I grin, thrilled to see her.
Almost as thrilled as she is to see me because I’m soon wrapped in an enormous hug and hauled inside.
‘Oh, it’s so good to see you,’ she says, still embracing me tightly. ‘So bloody good!’
‘I saw you last week,’ I chuckle.
‘Far too long. Come!’ she insists, guiding me inside. ‘I just made some apple and red berry pie. Sit. Have some with us.’
As I turn into the lounge, I meet with Papa Quinn.
‘There’s my favourite Arcane Witch,’ he smiles.
‘How are you doing?’ I ask, reaching up and throwing my arms around his neck.
‘Better for seeing you.’ He quickly guides me inside and before I’ve had the chance to sit, I have a plate of pie in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other.
I politely refuse the whiskey, but I sure as shit will have some of that pie. Mama Quinn’s pie… it’s the best!
‘Is everything okay?’ Papa Quinn asks. ‘It’s not like you to be out late.’
‘Or alone,’ Mama adds.
Her usual no-bullshit-here trait is still firmly in place.
That woman has seen me in the very depths of misery, anger and despair. We survived half a decade on the run together.
She’s more of a mother to me than anyone else in my whole life.
‘I need to talk to Connor. Is he home?’ I ask.
‘No, he’s not, I’m afraid,’ she says. ‘He’s gone down to that sodding cove again.’
‘Oh. When will he be back?’
‘He left a couple of days ago. He said he’ll be gone a while.’ She offers an unbothered shrug. ‘He could turn up any time.’
My stomach drops.
‘Y-you’ve not spoken to him for a few days?’ I ask.
‘No. Connor has been exploring this new realm relentlessly, obsessed with the creatures that live here. He’s convinced there’s a dragon down at that cove,’ she tells me. Her eyes narrow as she sees the blood drain from my face. ‘What’s happened?’
‘The cove. How far to ride to it?’
‘A few hours. Maybe more.’ She furrows her brow further and shifts to the edge of the sofa. ‘Why?’
‘I need to ask him something. About unicorns.’
‘Unicorns?’ they both ask together.
‘Hmmm. Does he keep notes or anything about the creatures he researches?’
‘In his room. There are dozens of books filled with his findings. Good luck trying to find anything specific. Connor is thorough, but he’s not organised,’ she says with an eye roll. ‘He’s the most unorganised and messy boy I have ever known.’
I can’t help but smirk. Her entire house is littered with books and notes. They pile up around doors and overflow on the tables and chairs.
The Quinns love to learn. And this is a whole new world full of the unknown.
‘To be honest with you,’ she adds. ‘He’s not found much out about unicorns. He’s too busy obsessing over dragons.’
I chew on my lower lip.
‘Oh no. I know that look,’ Mama Quinn groans.
‘Can you show me on a map where the Cove is?’ I ask.
Papa Quinn has already darted into action, pulling out a map from an over-filled drawer packed to the brim with sheets detailing the landscape. He places it in my hand and points to a section on the map.
‘This is where we are here.’ He trails his finger upwards. ‘Connor should be here, camped at the base of these cliffs. This path here is the best one to take. If you leave in the morning, you should get there by-’
‘What direction is this cliff, here?’ I ask, pointing at the edge of the landmass closest to where their cottage stands.
‘That direction,’ he tells me, pointing out of the kitchen window. ‘It’s a thirty-minute walk.’
‘How far up the coast can you see from there?’
‘Several miles.’ He taps a protruding part of the land on the map. ‘From the beach, you can see to here.’
‘And from there, where can you see too?’ I ask.
He replies with a quizzical frown but draws his finger along to the next protruding land mass.
‘You can see to here.’
‘And then?’
‘What are you planning?’ Mama Quinn asks.
‘I can’t yet send myself to places I haven’t seen. But if I see it, I can get to it.’
‘So, you plan to magically leapfrog your way along the coastline until you get to Connor?’
‘Pretty much,’ I shrug, looking at the map. ‘So, after this one here?’
He looks to his wife anxiously, seeking out permission to spill the beans.
‘Well, you might as well tell her. If she wants to go, she’s gonna go.’ Mama Quinn rummages for a quill and dips it in some ink before sitting beside me and marking out locations.
‘Can this not wait until morning?’ she asks as I get to my feet.
‘Maybe. But then I’ll be awake all night worrying.’
‘About what?’ she asks.
‘Hopefully, nothing. Don’t worry, Mama Quinn.’ I embrace her again. ‘Can I take some more pie? Connor will sulk if he knows I didn’t bring any.’
‘Sure thing. You want me to come to the cove with you? I can. It’s no bother.’
‘No need. I’m perfectly safe on my own.’
‘More like you’re worried and would rather only put yourself in harm’s way,’ she mutters before pulling back to look me in the eye. ‘Plus, you look spent, Lilly. Have you been overdoing the magic again?’
The woman knows me well.
‘I have to go. I don’t want you to worry, but there have been a few disappearances in the village. Witches who haven’t been seen or heard from in a few days.’
She gasps. ‘Is it those idiots? The Stolen fools in the woods?’
‘No. I went there today. It’s not them.’
‘Why do you need to talk to Connor?’
‘There was an incident with a unicorn, and I’d like his opinion. Plus… if you haven’t seen him for a few days, I would feel much better making sure he’s alright.
‘You don’t think Connor’s missing, do you?’ she asks, the blood draining from her face as she clutches her heart. ‘I want to come.’
‘I’ll return as soon as I can and let you know what I find,’ I assure her.
‘And, what does this all have to do with unicorns?’ asks Papa Quinn.
‘One was killed,’ I tell them. ‘By a man. I think he was a man. He had a hood. And a knife. He cut open the creature and took something from her.’
The look of horror on both their faces is enough to make me shudder.
‘I’m definitely coming with you to find Connor.’ Mama Quinn starts gathering her belongings.
‘I can’t take you,’ I say apologetically. ‘You’re right. I’m at my limit with my magic at the moment. My head is pounding and taking people with me adds more strain. It will be hard work to get myself to Connor. I can’t load myself up even more by taking you.’
‘But… what if he’s hurt?’
‘Then I’ll bring him straight home. If he’s not there, I’ll return as quickly as possible to tell you.’
‘So, if we don’t see you, that’s a good thing?’ Papa Quinn asks, tilting his head to the side and rubbing the back of his neck.
‘Yes. That means I’ve found him and we’re talking about the unicorn.’
‘Where is Gabriel?’ Mama Quinn asks.
‘At the village, looking for the missing people.’
‘Is your father with Callie?’ she asks.
I nod. ‘Amara and the kids too.’
‘Then I’ll take them some pie,’ she states, resuming her packing.
‘You don’t have to,’ I try. Uselessly.
‘Nonsense. In times of trouble, we are stronger and safer together. We’re a family. That’s how it works. Darling?’
She barely has to look at her husband for him to know she wants him to pack their bags. He leaves the room and rushes upstairs.
She rests her hands on my shoulders, a severe look of concern on her face.
‘I know you would feel better having us over at yours to help look after Callie. Just in case. So that’s where we will be. We will protect your family as you go and look for my boy.’
‘Are you sure you don’t mind?’
It’s true. I would feel much better having everyone together.
‘Any excuse to get some Callie time is good enough for me. Now, let me get you something.’ She rushes off to the kitchen and I hear the odd clatter before she returns and offers me a glass of some green sludge. ‘Drink this.’
‘Erm… why?’ I give it a sniff and recoil at the putrid smell burning my nostrils.
‘It’s a remedy I’ve been working on. It’s all-natural. Seeing as I’m the only non-magical being here, I’m making a point of enhancing my knowledge of herbal remedies for magical ailments. This one is for magical fatigue. It will just give you a little boost. And an extra charge to the neurons and some added sugars that-’
‘It will help my headache?’
‘It will help your headache.’
That’s all I need to hear. I down it, the slime and lumps making me gag.
‘But you know that if you push too far too quick, you can seriously hurt yourself,’ she adds. ‘If you overwork a muscle, it can tear. It can become irreparably damaged. You must take it easy with your magic until your body can catch up with your ability.’
I groan and try not to vomit all over her carpet as I hand back the empty glass.
‘I know,’ I insist, swallowing hard. ‘But there’s someone out there hurting us. I can’t sit about and do nothing. Gabriel and Collins are with the Council at the village. Bias has gone off again. And Connor could be in danger.’
‘You could wait for Gabriel to return from the village.’
‘He has things to deal with just as I do. Please, don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I know my limits.’
With their bags packed and their horses saddled, they insist first on taking me to the coast before they carry on to my cottage.
Papa Quinn shows me the first piece of land I will need to get myself to. It’s still visible, but the sun is setting, so I’m unsure how much light I have left.
With a final hug, we say our goodbyes. He gives me a lantern to help light my way, and I fade from their sights before appearing on another section of beach, further up the coast.
I can’t see them from this distance, but I know that Mama and Papa Quinn are still there.
I turn to find the next bit of land I need to get to, far off in the horizon.
‘Okay, magic. Please don’t give up on me now. Please… please just get me to Connor. Please let him be okay.’
Three hops later, I land on my knees, dizzy as fuck and with a headache so bad I wretch.
I still have one final jump to do, but first, I need to get to the right place so I can see where I need to go.
I start walking, climbing over the rocks protruding from the sand as I make my way around the jutting cliff face blocking my view of my next destination. The wind whips across my face and as the tide creeps in, so does the chill.
I stop as I round the cliffs and look ahead to what should be the final jump, barely visible in this light.
It’s a high and brutally steep cliff’s edge that juts out far into the darkening sea. The steep face is jagged and merciless, reaching high up and dropping sharply below. At the very top is where I need to go. So that is what I aim for.
I summon my magic and cast my spell, sending me to the top of the cliff.
My feet meet hard stone that crumbles loosely underfoot. The surface is barely any size at all. The cliff’s drop is a few feet at my back and a few feet at my front.
‘Shit,’ I hiss, staggering as vertigo strikes.
I wasn’t expecting such a narrow space for landing.
The wind is far fiercer up here than it was down on the beach, and I stumble a little against its force. The world spins as the use of my magic takes its toll. I lean over and heave, throwing up inches from my feet.
‘Ow…’ I groan, holding my head. ‘Urgh… fuck me…’
I pull out the flask of water Lois packed in the bag with the pie and swill my mouth clean before having a look around.
Taking a few cautious steps forwards, I peer over the edge. Below is a secluded cove encasing a slight stretch of beach. It’s hard to see much, but I see no sign of Connor or a camp at all.
Carefully, I walk along the rocks, further inland, where the pathway widens up. I follow a natural slope towards the cove, passing a blackberry bush and helping myself to a few to get rid of the horrendous taste in my mouth.
The path weaves into a narrow passage, and as I follow it, all I can think about is Connor in the grips of some lunatic with a knife.
Please don’t let him be missing. Please… please let him be at the Cove, fanboying over dragons.
I can’t stand the idea of returning home to tell Mama Quinn that her son is gone. That I have no idea where he is. That he could be dead.
My insides squirm at the mere idea of it.
There’s a rustle of leaves. I stop, every sense heightened.
The rustling continues in the overgrowth to my left and gets closer.
It stops suddenly, and before I can call out to see who, or what, is there, there’s a yell.
Someone tumbles from the top of the brush and lands at my feet with a painful groan. I pull my fist back, the tired and pathetic flicker of my fire barely alight in my skin.
They roll over and peer up at me.
‘That looked like it hurt,’ I laugh, extinguishing my fire.
‘Owwwwww,’ Connor groans, still on his back and his face scrunched up. He slowly opens his eyes and tilts his head in confusion. ‘Lilly? What the hell are you doing here?’
I reach out and take his hand, wholly and utterly relieved to see him in one piece. Always a miracle, considering the sheer clumsiness of the guy.
‘Looking for you. Where the hell did you just come from?’ I peer up at the top of the bushes. ‘You floating up there or something?’
‘Cliff path suddenly ended,’ he grumbles. ‘It’s so dark. I didn’t see. Oh… maaaaan!’ he whines, pulling out his satchel which oozes with berry juice. ‘They’re squashed to shit now.’
‘Don’t worry.’ I hold up my own bag. ‘Your mum sent pie.’
He happily takes it, opens it up and takes a big sniff.
Then he throws a cautious look at me.
‘Why did she send you with pie?’ He lowers the bag. ‘What’s happened?’
‘Funny you should ask.’ I rest my hands on his shoulders. ‘Connor, what do you know about unicorns?’
‘Huh?’
