All Was Revealed (20 page)

“I guess you’re right. It’s such a big step, though.”

“What’s the worst that can happen? You get hurt? So what? That’s the risk you’ll have to take sooner or later if you ever want to find true happiness.” She smiled. “Listen to me, I sound like I know what I’m talking about.”

“Thanks, Kathy.”

Chapter 22

I was trying to distract myself, but it wasn’t easy. Today was the date that had been marked on the wall calendar in The Central. It may have meant nothing, but I couldn’t take any chances; I had to be doubly alert. I’d decided to stay in the office all day, and then go straight home.

At least, that had been the plan. But then—

“There’s a young man in reception,” Mrs V said. “His name is Raven, I think.”

“Okay, send him in please, Mrs V.”

As soon as he walked through the door, I knew something was wrong.

“What is it?”

“Drake’s been kidnapped. Last night, we were together in Washbridge Park when three hooded men appeared from nowhere. One of them hit me over the head. I saw them grab Drake, but I was too stunned to do anything about it.”

“Didn’t anyone try to help you?”

“It was late; the park was practically empty.
”

“Do you have any idea who the men were?”

“No, but the chances are TDO is behind it.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Because Drake is close to you, and that makes him a target.”

Raven was probably right. The thought that this had happened because of me made me feel terrible.

“Why were you in Washbridge, anyway?”

“That’s my fault. I’ve been laying low over here. Drake came to see me. I thought if anyone had a chance of finding him, it would be you. Will you help?”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I’m going back to the park to see if I can find anything, will you put out the feelers in Candlefield?”

“Of course. I’ll get straight on it.”

We exchanged phone numbers, and promised to make contact if either of us came up with anything.

There were plenty of places one might look for TDO in Candlefield, but today of all days, there was really only one. It was the very last place I wanted to visit, but what choice did I have? Even though my relationship with Drake had never got off the ground, I still considered him a friend.

“I have to go out, Mrs V.”

“Is everything okay? That young man looked very worried about something.”

“I hope so. A friend of mine has gone missing.”

“Have the police been informed?”

“I don’t think they’ll be able to help this time.”

“Be careful, Jill!”

I’d broken through the ‘illusion’ spell on my previous visit to The Central, and could still see the trapdoor which would give me access to the building. I used my phone to light my way down the stairs, and across the basement. At the bottom of the steps leading into the main building, I hesitated. What was waiting for me up there?

I edged my way up the steps one by one. Once at the top, I peered out between the metal rails which bordered the stairway. The sight that greeted me made my blood run cold. Seated on one of the old wooden chairs was Drake. His hands appeared to be bound behind his back, and he was wearing a blindfold. Standing next to him was my father. I’d been right all along. TDO was my own father.

“Let him go,” I shouted.

My father didn’t respond.

“Let Drake go. This is between you and me.”

I’d just started to walk towards them, when suddenly, my father began to run towards me.

“Jill, get out of here! It’s a trap. Get out!”

I’d been so focussed on my father that I hadn’t noticed Drake stand up and remove the blindfold. From there, everything seemed to happen in slow motion. There was a sound so loud it felt as though it might puncture my ear drums. A bolt of lightning hit my father square in the back, and sent him crashing to the ground. It took me a few seconds to realise what had happened. Drake had fired the thunderbolt at my father who was now lying prone on the floor.

I was still trying to process what I’d just seen when someone pushed me from behind, and sent me stumbling forward.

It was Raven.

“Nice of you to come, Jill,” Drake said.

“Drake, what’s going on? I thought you’d been kidnapped.”

“You fell for that? Really? I’m disappointed in you.”

“I don’t understand.”

But even as I said it, I suddenly understood only too clearly.

“You’re The Dark One.”

“I do hate that name. I’m not even sure who came up with it. But yes, I suppose I am.”

“I thought we were—”

“What? Friends?”

“Friends, yes.”

“Then, you’re even stupider than I thought.”

“What do you want from me?”

“At last, a sensible question. Your mother frustrated my ambitions. By now I should have been the most powerful sup in all of Candlefield. The indisputable ruler of the supernatural world. But just when I was about to take her power, she escaped, and passed it on to you. So you see, I have to take it from you. It’s only fair.”

“But I don’t understand. You could have killed me a dozen times.”

“It’s true, I could, but some of the power was lost when it passed from your mother to you. What was left wouldn’t have been enough for my purposes. I had to wait until you reached level six.”

I laughed. “It looks like you’ve blown it then because I’m still only level three.”

“That’s true, but now you’ve inherited the power from the greatest witch of all time: Magna Mondale. That makes you the most powerful witch in Candlefield. And when your power passes to me, it will make me indestructible.”

“That’s never going to happen.”

“What makes you think you have a choice in the matter? You may be the most powerful witch, but you’re still no match for me.”

I turned to Raven. “Are you going to let your brother do this?”

He laughed.

“You’re so naïve, Jill,” Drake said. “Raven isn’t my brother. He works for me. I believe you’ve met some of my other followers too?”

“Do you mean those pathetic hooded creatures?”

“No.” He seemed to find that amusing. “They were mere puppets which I sent to test you. Don’t you think I could have killed you any number of times if I’d wanted to? The Ipod, the explosion—all of those were designed simply to scare you. To encourage you to move up the levels more quickly. The followers I’m referring to are very real, and they’re ready to stand behind me when I take control of Candlefield.”

“You really are pure evil.”

“Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment. Much as I’d like to stand around and talk to you all day, I have more important things to do. Perhaps we should just get this over with.”

Just then, there was a rumbling sound—footsteps. The next thing I knew, Grandma and several other level six witches came rushing up the steps from the basement. Raven turned to face them, but they pushed him aside. When he tried to stand up, Grandma thumped him under the chin, knocking him out cold. She might have bony fingers, but when combined with the ‘power’ spell, she packed a mean punch.

“I see you’ve brought your family with you.” Drake seemed totally unfazed by the intruders.

“I thought I’d find
you
here,” Grandma spat the words at Drake. “I didn’t trust you from the first moment I met you.”

“Did you know he was TDO, Grandma?”

“Not for sure, but I had my suspicions.”

So that was why she’d had the surveillance in his flat. It had never been about keeping tabs on me. She’d been watching Drake all along.

Grandma and the other witches formed a semi-circle around him.

“Give it up, Drake,” Grandma said. “You can’t get out of here.”

He laughed. “Do you really think you’re a match for me?”

“We’ll find out.” Grandma shot a thunderbolt at him; the other witches did the same.

Just as the thunderbolts were about to find their mark, he raised his hand, and the thunderbolts flew back towards Grandma and the others, knocking them flat on their backs. Grandma wasn’t dead, but she was stunned—as were the other witches.

“That leaves just you and me, Jill. Shall we get this over with?” Drake began to walk towards me. This was it. I was done for, unless I could somehow overcome him. But what chance did I have if so many level six witches had already failed?

But I wasn’t about to give up—I would at least go down fighting.

First, I had to get out of the way. He was approaching quickly, and any moment, he would be on top of me. A combination of the ‘power’ and ‘vortex’ spells allowed me to move at lightning speed, and not just in a straight line. I spun round in circles until I was behind Drake. As he turned to see where I’d gone, I took hold of one of the metal rails which bordered the steps to the basement, using the ‘power’ spell to dislodge it from the floor. Then I combined that same spell with the ‘propel’ spell to launch the rail like a spear.

Drake laughed, and put up his hand to deflect it—just as he’d done with the thunderbolts that Grandma and the other witches had shot at him. But the spear pierced his hand, and then pierced his forehead.

He looked momentarily stunned, but then fell backwards onto the floor. He was dead. I’d killed Drake. I’d killed TDO.

Grandma had managed to get to her knees.

“Grandma, are you okay?”

“Of course I’m okay. What about you?”

“I’m fine.”

The other witches appeared to be all right too, and were slowly getting back to their feet. But what about my father? He’d tried to save me from Drake who must have forced him to stand next to the chair in the hope that I’d kill my own father.

I ran over to him.

“Dad? Dad?”

I felt for his pulse, but there was nothing. The power of Drake’s thunderbolt must have killed him instantly.

I’d always assumed my father didn’t love me—that he didn’t care. I’d been so very wrong. His very last act had been to try to save me. When last I’d seen him, I’d told him I wanted nothing more to do with him, and had said ‘goodbye’. What wouldn’t I have given to speak to him one more time? To tell him that I loved him. But it was too late. He had gone.

Chapter 23

Grandma came rushing into my office.

“Come on Jill, we have to get going. There’s no time to lose.”

“No time to lose for
what
? Please tell me you haven’t arranged another lesson already. I’ve got work to do.”

“It has nothing to do with lessons; there’s an EGM for the level six witches.”

“No chance! I don’t ever want to go to another EGM. Last time, they pulled me onto the stage, and interrogated me about Magna’s book. I’m staying well clear. Take Aunt Lucy with you if you need an assistant.”

“The only reason the EGM has been called is because of you. You have to be there.”

“Because of me? Do they want to interrogate me again? Can’t you tell them I threw the book into the Dark Well?”

“It has nothing to do with Magna’s book. There’s nothing for you to worry about this time, I promise. But we have to go, and we have to go right now.”

It was pointless arguing, so I took hold of Grandma’s hand, and she magicked us to the town hall in Candlefield.

There were numerous level six witches on their way inside. When they saw me they all smiled. What a very different reception to the one I’d received at the previous EGM. Back then, I’d been given the cold shoulder by all and sundry. Today, they were not only smiling at me, but a few of them actually waved and called out my name.

Grandma hurried me into the hall. I pointed to two empty seats at the back of the room.

“You need to be right at the front, young lady.”

“What? No, please!”

“Come on.” She took hold of my arm, and practically frogmarched me to the front of the hall where she insisted we sit at a table in the front row. All the witches around us were smiling and waving at me. It was all a little unnerving if I’m honest. At least on the previous occasion, I’d known where I stood. This time, I didn’t know what to expect. Five minutes later, the doors were closed; the room was full to capacity.

A witch took to the stage. It was the same woman who had interrogated me the last time I was there. Today though, she looked much happier; she too smiled at me. This was really starting to creep me out.

“Level six witches, welcome to this Extraordinary General Meeting. Most of you will already know why we’re here.”

Really?
I
didn’t have a clue.

“For too many years, Candlefield has lived under a shadow. That shadow was cast by an evil sup known as The Dark One. For the longest time, we level six witches have sought to put a stop to his reign of terror, but failed even to identify him. But today, I am pleased to report that The Dark One is no more.”

The room was filled with cheers and applause, which went on for several minutes.

“You may recall that Jill Gooder was brought before the last EGM to answer questions about Magna Mondale’s book. At that time, I think most of us were concerned that she was too inexperienced to be in possession of such a powerful tool. We were wrong. TDO tried to kill Jill, so that he could acquire her powers. Had he succeeded, no one would have been able to stand in his way. Several level six witches, including Jill’s own grandmother confronted TDO in an attempt to save Jill, but he was too powerful for them. That seemed to leave Jill at his mercy, and with it the future of Candlefield. But, as you can see, Jill is with us here today. She single-handedly rid us of TDO once and for all.”

At that, the hall once again erupted in cheers. It seemed as though everyone was on their feet, even Grandma.

“Jill, please will you join me on stage.”

I hesitated—I was more than a little embarrassed by all the attention, but Grandma ushered me onto the stage.

“Would you say a few words, please, Jill?”

Oh dear, I hated speaking in public.

I tapped the microphone. “Can everyone hear me? Good. Thank you for those kind words. I’m obviously thrilled that TDO is no more, but I’m equally saddened that my father was killed trying to save me. I barely knew my father, and I’m ashamed to say I thought he didn’t care about me, and even that he might actually be TDO. I know now I was wrong, but it’s too late to tell him. So, as I’m sure you will understand, it is with mixed feelings that I accept your thanks.”

I started to walk off the stage, but the woman grabbed my arm.

“Just a moment, Jill. I’d like you to stay there for a little longer.”

Before I could object, she’d turned to address the room again.

“Level six witches, there is only one motion in front of us today. That motion is to create a new level of witchcraft—level seven. The reason for doing that should be obvious to everyone. It is to recognise that we now have among us a witch who is far more powerful than any level six witch has ever been. In the same way that level six was created for Magna Mondale, we should now create another level for Jill Gooder.”

“No, hold on!” I stepped forward.

“Jill, please.” She put her hand out to silence me. “Can we have a show of hands. All those in favour of creating level seven, please raise your hand.”

This was the same motion that had been defeated at the last AGM—a motion that Grandma had pushed hard for. This time though, it seemed that every hand in the room was raised.

“Thank you, ladies. All those against?”

There was only one hand raised. Ma Chivers glared at me, defiantly.

“The motion is passed, almost unanimously. Jill, I would like to invite you to become the first level seven witch.”

***

After the EGM had finished, I left Grandma inside talking to some of her friends. Outside on the steps, someone called my name. It was Ma Chivers.

“I suppose you think you’ve won.” As always she was right in my face.

“I wasn’t aware it was a competition. You’ll be sorry to have lost your leader.”

“What leader?”

“TDO of course.”

She laughed. “TDO was never my ‘leader’. He was only ever the pretender to the throne.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” She laughed again. “The Phoenix will make sure of that.”

“Who?”

She walked away without another word. Why was I even wasting my time with her? She had always been full of it.

***

I magicked myself to Washbridge, and was on my way back to the office when someone called my name.

“Jill, we were just on our way to see you.” It was Bonnie and Clive. “We have that present we promised you.” Clive passed me a rectangular package wrapped in pretty floral gift-wrap.

“You really shouldn’t have.”

“Nonsense. It’s the least we could do. If it hadn’t been for you, and the posters you made, we might never have got our darling Bella back.”

That probably wasn’t true, but hey, after the day I’d had, I could eat a few chocolates. I could tell from the shape of the present that’s what it was.

“Didn’t you say you have a cat too?” Clive asked.

“Yes, Winky.”

“That’s an unusual name.”

“He only has one eye.”

“Oh dear.” Bonnie looked genuinely concerned. “Poor little man. How does he cope?”

“He seems to get by.”

“We’d better not keep you. I’m sure you’re busy.”

“As always.”

I couldn’t wait to get stuck into the chocolates, but maybe I should offer Mrs V one.

What? Okay, maybe two. But I was going to take out my favourites first.

I tore off the gift wrap.

Oh bum! It wasn’t chocolates.

“Winky? Where are you?”

“What’s up?” He crawled out from under my desk.

“I’ve got a present for you.”

“For me? What’s the catch?”

“Why would you say that? Can’t I give my favourite cat a present without an ulterior motive?”

“Unlikely, but go on, I’ll bite.”

“There you are.”

“Wow! Thanks, Jill.”

“Do you like it? I had it specially commissioned.”

“It’s brilliant. It captures Bella’s je ne sais quoi.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“It must have cost a few bob. Portraits like this can be expensive.”

“Nothing is too good for my darling Winky.”

“I’ll keep it under the sofa, so I have Bella with me at all times.”

How sweet!

***

The time had come to let Jack have my answer. It had been one of the most difficult decisions of my entire life. Kathy had been unequivocal that I should say ‘yes’, but although I valued her opinion, she wasn’t privy to all the information.

Could a relationship be built upon a lie? That was the conundrum that had haunted me ever since Jack had posed the question. Even if he never discovered my ‘secret’, might it eat away at me every day? It would have been so much easier if I hadn’t known I was a witch. But I did, and I had to face reality. And the reality was, if I said ‘yes’, I’d have to live a lie, but if I said ‘no’, it would spell the end of our relationship forever. Jack and I would be finished before we’d even started.

I’d phoned him an hour ago to tell him I’d made my decision. He’d pressed me to tell him there and then, but I’d refused. It was important to me to do this face to face. He’d been on his way into a meeting, and wasn’t sure what time he’d get out. I told him I’d be in Bar Fish, and would wait for him. However long it took.

“What’s going to happen to this place?” I asked the bar manager.

He shrugged. “The business is in administration. They’re hoping to find a buyer, but I’m not optimistic. I’m already looking for a new job.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Fishtail?”

“No, thanks. I need to keep a clear head. I’ll have a lime and soda, please.”

Every minute seemed a little longer than the previous one. The fish seemed to be taunting me with their wide eyes. I was on my third lime and soda when Jack finally appeared. He looked flustered, and very serious.

“Do you want a drink?” I asked.

“No, I don’t want a drink. I have absolutely no idea what the meeting I’ve just been in was about. I just wanted it to end.” He took a seat next to me. “So? What’s your answer?”

“I’ve given this a lot of thought—”

“Enough, Jill. Just tell me what you’ve decided. Will you move in with me?”

“Yes.”

“Yes?” He looked stunned.

“But.”

“No ‘buts’. Just stick at ‘yes’.”

“It’s only a small ‘but’.”

“How small?”

“I want to wait for a little while.”

“What? Why?”

“Not for long. Just a few months so I can get used to the idea, and to be certain we’re both sure about this.”

“I’m sure right now. Look at me. Don’t I look sure?”

“Yes, but—”

“But you’re not sure?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I want to do it.”

“It doesn’t sound like it.”

“I do. I absolutely do. More than anything.”

“This isn’t just your way of letting me down gently?”

“No. I promise.”

“How many months?”

“I don’t know. Not many.”

“One?”

“I don’t know.”

“Two?”

“Jack!”

“What?”

“Shut up, and kiss me!”