the cottage in a whoosh. One Callie declares loudly as she runs around the permanent Christmas tree with her hands in the air.
We quickly stop inside and make a picnic basket before heading back out and making our way towards the woodland at the bottom of the hill. The two kids run ahead, waving sticks above their heads and singing some made-up song about mermaids and unicorns whilst discussing at length how much fun it will be when they finally get their magic or how great the school is.
Amara and I follow behind, with Amara carrying Lilah on her front in a wraparound carrier made of cloth.
‘So no one has any ideas where they went?’ she asks after I tell her exactly what happened in the meeting.
I shake my head.
‘Apparently not. Gabriel and Collins are staying there to do some digging. I’m sure they will find something.’
‘I kind of hope not,’ she adds, looking down at Lilah. ‘I’m personally hoping that they all snuck off together in secret, in some kind of love nest situation.’
‘I’m not holding out much hope for that scenario, I’m afraid.’
‘It’s just…’ she groans loudly. ‘You’ve only been here a few months. It’s time you relaxed. I think it’s safe to say that you have earned a peaceful retirement.’
‘Not sure I get to retire. Being the Arcane and all.’ I look ahead to Callie and feel that swell of guilt that enjoys haunting me. ‘If there’s something shady going on, we’ll put a stop to it and carry on with our lives. It’s what we do. In the meantime…’ I take a long and deep inhale, enjoying the world around me in all its glory. ‘I don’t think I will ever get used to how clean the air is here,’ I smile. ‘And I cannot stop looking up at the stars at night. It’s so clear without the pollution. The kids are so lucky to have known nothing but this.’
‘Has Gabriel mentioned anything more about having another baby?’
‘Not since I almost choked to death on the sandwich I was eating when he first asked me about it,’ I reply. ‘No.’
‘You’re still not keen?’
‘Maybe one day. But to be honest, I doubt it.’ I watch Callie up ahead. ‘She will come into her powers soon, and everything will change for her. Being an Arcane is so dangerous. I feel terrible that she will have to deal with all the shit that goes along with it. I’m not sure I want to subject anyone else to that if I don’t have to.’
‘Her experiences with the Arcane power won’t be the same as yours. You need to remember that. She will have the best teachers. The greatest support and advice. She’ll have you.’
‘Either way, whatever is stopping Gabriel from having kids is staying that way for now. He can have it magically healed if we ever change our mind, but as you said, I’ve only been here a few months. I’m still not… I’m not entirely settled yet. I keep thinking something is going to tear me away or come after us. I just don’t have the inner strength to add another baby into that yet. Especially if something is stirring and there’s someone out there stealing witches. Never mind the creepy cult in the woods who keep trying shit to provoke me into sending them back to the human world.’
‘All very fair points,’ she laughs with a nod.
We carry on, watching the two kids clamber up a fallen log and balance their way along it. Finley reaches back and takes Callie’s hand, keeping her steady as she stumbles a little. I love how he’s always looking out for her. It’s so adorable.
‘You and Gabriel okay after he snapped at you this morning?’ she asks.
‘We’re fine. He’s just tired and on edge. Neither of us are getting a lot of sleep.’
‘Like that, huh?’ she smirks, wagging her eyebrows at me.
‘Not quite,’ I chuckle. ‘I had another nightmare last night and ended up in Callie’s room again. It’s a wonder Gabriel hasn’t tied me down to the bed yet. He’s spent every night so far in the most uncomfortable positions, either squashed up in a bed with us all crammed in together or in some heap where Callie and I have tangled ourselves up.’
‘Please,’ she scoffs. ‘He’d sleep with one of Lilah’s nappies as a pillow if it meant you were within arm’s reach. How is magic training going? I ask because your eyes are still a little bloodshot.’
‘It’s going well. Just building up my stamina again,’ I tell her. ‘Still waiting on my Sight to appear, but otherwise, everything else is back up and running.’ I step over a fallen tree and help her across. ‘It’s weird to have the knowledge but not the strength or skill. But I’ll get there. I just need to keep practising. I may have overdone it this morning with all the whooshing.’
‘Callie does enjoy a good whoosh,’ Amara laughs.
The two children follow the rugged path deeper into the woods, towards the sound of a gently flowing river.
As we arrive in the clearing, I hear a booming laugh.
‘There’s my beautiful granddaughter! Come here, you!’
Callie sprints towards Dad as he stands at the edge of the river and throws herself into his waiting arms.
Dad encases her in a bear hug, kissing her cheek over and over, making her laugh as his beard tickles her skin.
His long grey hair is tied back in a ponytail, as ever. And he still insists on wearing those hideous flannel shirts every day.
‘Did you bring your fishing rods?’ he asks both Callie and Finley.
‘We did,’ they both declare, waving around their sticks like lunatics.
‘Good stuff. You know what to do. Off you go.’
He lowers Callie to the ground, and she joins Finley by the bucket. The two start wrapping wire around their sticks.
Dad’s eyes land on me and I let out the most relieved sigh. Amara lets my hand go and lingers back a little as I go to meet him.
I get much the same as Callie did. An enormous embrace and several kisses on the cheek.
‘Good morning, Buttons,’ he says, still holding me tight.
‘Morning, Dad.’
‘I’m so glad to see you.’
‘You saw me last night at dinner.’
‘And I was glad to see you then, too.’
To be in his arms is to be encased by a forcefield of protection. He’s my Dad. And I still thank the universe that I get this chance to be his daughter again.
I fight the urge to burst into tears as I get bombarded with images of him strapped to that table, slowly being carved up. My grip gets tighter, and I feel hot tears spring into my eyes. He winces and I know I’ve accidentally shared with him a glimpse of that misery through my Mental magic.
‘I’m sorry,’ I whimper, pulling back. ‘I didn’t mean-’
‘It’s okay,’ he calms, refusing to let me go. ‘Don’t pull away for me. I don’t even remember that. Gabriel had me tucked far away as that happened. This memory is yours, and I’ll share in it with you so you don’t face it alone. I’m here. It’s okay.’
He lets me grip him in my vice-like hold.
‘It’s okay, Buttons. Deep breaths. Where are you?’
‘I’m here,’ I reply with a calming breath. ‘With you.’
‘And what are you?’
I swallow down the sob attempting to claw its way up my throat.
‘I’m safe. We’re all safe.’
‘That’s my girl.’
He doesn’t release me. He doesn’t ease up. He never does. If I don’t let go first, I’m sure we would start sprouting roots.
I step back, but he keeps a hold of my hand and a comforting smile firmly in place.
‘Another bad night? You look tired.’
‘It was just a nightmare,’ I tell him.
‘Gabriel said it put a crack in the ceiling,’ Amara adds. When I glare over my shoulder at her, she shrugs. ‘What? It did!’
I look back to Dad with an eye roll. ‘It didn’t bring the house down or start a fire, though. I choose to look on the bright side of things.’
‘That’s my girl,’ Dad chuckles. ‘If you want to catch up on some sleep, you can lie down there if you like?’ He gestures to the selection of blankets and cushions he has laid out for us all. ‘Catch up on some rest whilst the kids and I catch dinner.’
‘I want to watch,’ I insist, glancing at Callie as she frowns with frustration at the knotted mess of wire at the end of her stick. Finley has made his already and is quick to help her sort out her chaos. ‘I like watching you guys.’
‘You’re free to join us if you like. I brought an extra line.’
‘I’m good. You do the grandpa thing. I’ll do the tired mum thing.’
‘Oh!’ Amara says happily, raising her hand. ‘I’ll be doing that too.’ She makes for the blanket.
‘You will come back to the house after, right? Cook whatever it is you catch?’ I ask almost pleadingly.
‘Of course, sweetheart. I’d love to.’
‘Have you spoken to the Council lately?’ I ask.
‘I may have.’ He narrows his eyes, waiting to see if I know what he knows.
‘I went to see The Stolen this morning about the missing people,’ I tell him. He slumps in relief that I’m in the know and that he doesn’t have to tip toe around it.
‘Are they involved?’
‘No. It’s not them. They have some missing people too. And one of the girls mentioned mutilated animals. I left Gabriel and Collins at the village to investigate a bit more.’
‘How was the visit to that hovel?’
‘Oh, you know. Same old. They called me every name under the sun and spat at us. But I did save a baby and more of them came back to the village with us.’ I fill with pride. ‘The looks on their faces when the others all rushed over to help them was something else.’
‘The rest will come around eventually. No one can live like that forever.’
‘Some of them, maybe. But those leaders, the ones with those massive crucifixes around their necks… I’m not so sure about. They throw their religious beliefs around to the detriment of other people’s lives. A baby would have died if I hadn’t gone there today. Several kids came back with us, so that’s something. But there are more. I don’t like leaving them there.’
‘You want me to pop over to the village after we’re done here? See if I can do anything to help?’
‘See if Clara is still there, more like.’
‘No… that’s not what I mean…’ he stutters. ‘She was there this morning, was she?’
‘She was. She came to the cottage this morning to fetch us. She asked about you.’
‘She did?’
I nod. ‘You can ask her to join us for dinner if you want to.’
I wait. Sure enough, his cheeks begin to blush.
‘I told you before. Ain’t nothing going on with Clara and me. We’re friends.’
‘I think she would like to be a little more than friends, Dad. And it’s obvious you do too.’
He grumbles and continues to redden.
I’ve watched them for months now. Going for their walks. Meeting up for lunches. They seem to have gotten relatively close whilst I was “away”.
Dad insists there is nothing more than friendship between them. But I know that there’s a ton more and then some.
‘Invite her,’ I attempt again.
‘Maybe another time. Besides, she’ll probably bring Ash with her.’
‘And?’
Dad sort of grimaces and shrugs.
‘Ash unsettles me a little. It’s his eyes. They’re… kinda…’
‘Familiar, right?’ I agree, glad I’m not the only one. ‘In a really eerie way. They look at you and it feels like they look straight through you.’
‘Exactly.’
‘Well, I’m supposed to be going around theirs for dinner at some point. He keeps going on about his girlfriend being desperate to meet me.’
‘Maybe she wants your autograph?’ Dad teases.
‘Grandpa, we’re ready!’ Callie declares in her usual little sing-song voice.
‘Yes, ma’am,’ he grins. ‘Duty calls.’
He turns away and joins the children.
I join Amara on the blanket and watch the three wade into the river. They cast their line and set to work, listening to Dad’s instructions with intense concentration, determined to learn all there is to learn about catching fish for no other reason than to be the first one to catch the biggest.
The rope pinches the skin around my wrists and my screams get stuck in my throat, refusing to come out, the way they always do in a dream.
I pull and I pull, desperate to stop the horrific acts of violence playing out before me.
To stop Gabriel’s murder.
Grayson is carving out his eyes and spitting in his face.
Behind me, Theo laughs. He laughs as he picks up Callie’s limp body and starts walking away with her.
No. No. No… NO!
I sit with such speed, the world spins. Finally, the scream finds its freedom and tears itself from my throat, exploding into the air like a shriek direct from hell.
My magic surges. The ground trembles beneath me and a deafening rushing sound pierces the air.
That, and screams.
Tears blur my vision and all I see are shapes scrambling about as the others yell and shout.
‘LILLY! LILLY, STOP!’ Dad bellows, his voice filled with panic and fear. ‘WAKE UP!’
I blink, clearing my vision.
Dad has Finley and Callie under his arms and is frantically running towards us, his eyes firmly on the sky above him.
The kids are screaming and coughing up water. They’re all soaked through.
Amara is holding the baby, yelling at them all to run!
RUN!
It hits me suddenly that the river… it’s gone!
I look up.
‘Fuck…’ I hiss.
In my sleep, the horror of my dreams manifested in my power, and has spilled out.
The water is overhead, suspended in the air, swirling like it’s a raging sea in the middle of a violent storm.
Amongst it are boulders and rocks.
And it’s starting to fall. The whole damn lot.
I look at Dad and the children in his arms.
They’re not going to make it.
I get to my feet, but before I’ve even stood, I send myself straight to them and raise my hands up high, keeping the ceiling of water and stone from crashing down on top of them.
The weight of it forces me into the silt and mud as deep as my knees.
“RUN!’ I scream at them.
Dad hasn’t even stopped.
But the weight is too much, and my stamina just isn’t there.
The rocks start to fall first, slamming to the ground with heavy thuds. Dad dodges them, leaping left to right as the kids keep screaming. Amara stretches out her hand, using her magic to redirect them away.
Then the water starts to slip, falling like a light rain at first, and then a downpour.
I can’t hold it. None of it.
I look at Dad and the kids. I look at Amara.
And I divert my power to them instead.
They all turn and face me.
I send them home in a forceful “whoosh”. Back to the cottage, far from me and my inability to fucking control myself.
Back to safety.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath just as the water crashes down on top of me, swallowing me whole.
