Chapter 26

Caspian was lost in a sea of green-blue mist.

He was formless, unable to discern arms from legs, or fingers from toes. He couldn’t even feel any sensations, and for the first time in days, was free from the pain of his stab wound and bruises. With growing horror, he realised his spirit had left his body.

But he wasn’t spirit-walking. There was no silver cord tying him to his body. He was somewhere else, and he had a horrible feeling he was in the spirit world. If the spirits of the smugglers found him, they would surely kill him, severing his spirit forever from his body, trapping him here.

Unless he was already dead.

He tried not to panic and concentrated on his surroundings, finally hearing distant voices. They were familiar. Were they voices of the dead? No. It was Briar, and then Avery and Alex, but he couldn’t make out what they said.

That meant he couldn’t be dead. He was hovering somewhere in between.

What the hell had happened? Trying to think was hard. He couldn’t focus, and his thoughts drifted randomly. He’d been working a spell, but something else had happened.

Reuben! He’d been working with Reuben, and something had exploded from the pages of the grimoire. The voices of his friends were reassuring, grounding him, but he needed to know if Reuben was here. But was this really the spirit world, or something different? Why did he feel as if he was drifting on a tide? Drawing on the voices from above like an anchor, he cast around for Reuben’s magical signature, and finally felt it. Relieved, he drifted towards it like a leaf on a current, shocked to hear Reuben’s voice in his head.

Caspian?”

Reuben! Are you okay?”

I’m great, except for the fact that I can’t feel my body.”

Great? Great was odd…

Caspian continued, regardless. “We’ve left them behind. That bloody spell.” Now that he was talking to Reuben, he had a sense of his shape and being, which helped ground him even further as he found his footing in this strange place. “We need to get back to our bodies before we’re discovered.”

By who?”

The smugglers’ ghosts, you idiot! We’re in their world—I think.”

Even in the spirit world, he could discern Reuben’s dry scepticism. “Pull the other one, Caspian.”

Look around! Where the hell else do you think we are?”

I’m on a beach.”

What?” Caspian looked around him, confused. “No, you’re not. We’re in the middle of nothingness!”

No, I’m on a tropical beach. It’s so warm! I’m watching the sea right now.”

I thought you said you couldn’t feel your body?”

I can’t, but I know I’m on a beach.”

That doesn’t make sense.”

Neither do you.”

Of all the people to be stuck in some sodding limbo-land with, he was with Reuben-bloody-surf-mad-Jackson! “Reuben! Focus! How can you be on a beach when we were in your attic only minutes ago?”

You were in my attic? Weird.”

We were looking for the curse that killed Coppinger!”

Silence fell, and then he said, “Oh yeah, I thought that was a dream.”

No! That is reality. Your beach is a dream.”

Come and look at it, then you’ll see.”

Reuben’s voice seemed to be drifting away from him, and Caspian realised that Reuben could be dying. Or was he already dead? Was that why he was on a beach and Caspian wasn’t?

Perhaps, Caspian reflected, he should be grateful for the weird, green mist rather than being in his happy place. Where would that even be? Avery’s arms, that’s where. He could feel her now, her softness, her slim body within his hold, her lips that tasted like honey. He’d drown in her, and he’d die happy.

Alex’s eyes burned with fatigue, and he sat back in his chair, frustrated.

“I can make out a couple of lines of this spell, at best!”

“More than I can,” Avery confessed, leaning back in the chair and stretching. “I think we have to admit that we can’t do this.”

“I hate being defeated by a spell.”

“We’re not good at curses, and there’s a lot of elemental water in this. That’s one of my weakest elements.”

Alex exhaled heavily. “Mine, too. At least we’ve got a feel for the shape of it, even if we don’t know the details.”

“Come on,” Avery said, rising to her feet. “I’m starving, and I want a glass of wine. No, need a glass of wine. And we should update the others on our lack of progress.”

Alex glanced at his watch, groaning when he saw the time. “Shit, it’s after seven. No wonder we’re knackered and starving. Let’s go downstairs and see who else has arrived.” He looked around at the attic, properly focussing on it for the first time in the last couple of hours, and realised the malevolence and despair he’d felt earlier had vanished. “You did a good job of cleansing this, Avery.”

“I had to. It felt toxic.”

So many things here reminded him of Gil. “This must be weird for Reuben, being surrounded by Gil’s stuff.”

Their stuff.”

“Yeah, but still.” He looked at Avery’s tired and frustrated expression, her wild red hair soft on her shoulders. “I’m not sure I could stand to see all your stuff around me if anything happened to you. I think the memories would be too painful.”

She stepped forward into his arms, snuggling against his chest. “I know what you mean, but I’d find it comforting, too.”

He inhaled her fresh scent of musk and roses, and nuzzled her neck. “You make all this worthwhile.”

She leaned back to look up at him, puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“Magic is great, but it’s nothing without someone to share it with.” His fingers trailed across her cheek. “I’m lucky. Seeing Gil’s spirit again reminded me of him and Alicia, and it still burns me how awful that was—her deception. Their lies to each other.”

“I agree. But we won’t do that.”

She sounded so certain, and yet she had kissed Caspian and kept that from him. His doubt must have showed, because she tightened her grip around him.

“Caspian kissed me,” she reminded him forcefully, “just in case that’s going through your head, and I told you about it! And I guarantee it won’t happen again!”

“I know. I trust you, but it still niggles me. Especially since I‘ve come to realise that Caspian isn’t going anywhere. He’s one of us now, in some weird annoying way.” He wanted to say he was like a bad rash, but he decided Avery wouldn’t appreciate that.

“And we’re stronger for having him as a friend.”

“As long as we don’t have to put up with Estelle, too.”

“Oh, she hates us, so we won’t.” She stretched up to kiss him. “Come on, mister. Food time.”

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, El was just closing the front door, and white plastic bags were on the floor around her, filled with cartons.

“El! You bloody superstar. I smell curry!” Alex hurried forward and picked up a couple of bags as she turned to smile at him. She looked tired, but seemed a little less bleak than she had earlier. And cleaner. “You’ve showered!”

“I had to. I stank of Wheal Droskyn,” she said, picking up two bags and handing them to Avery, and then another two for herself before walking down the hall. “Have you had success?”

Avery shook her head. “No, other than identifying a couple of lines. We’ll update you when we’re all together.” She gestured to the bags. “Why have we got so much food?”

“Because everyone is here! Ash is down in the billiard room, so I’ll take some down to him.”

They stopped in the kitchen, finding beer for Alex and wine for Avery, and when they entered the snug, they found that Ben, Cassie, and Dylan had just arrived, the room full of chatter. Alex glanced at Reuben and Caspian, but they were still lying unconscious under the blankets.

He greeted the others, and then said to Briar, “No luck, then?”

“Not yet.” She gestured to the gemstones she’d used on various points of their bodies, and the herbs burning steadily in bowls around them, their fragrance scenting the room. “I’m drawing out their spirit, and stabilising their energies, but they’re slow to respond. Did you have luck with the spell?”

Alex rolled his eyes. “No. But from the couple of lines I could read, it’s a doozy. Let’s hope Caspian can decipher it. Before we get into it, let’s eat.”

After a flurry of activity they all settled themselves into the snug, plates perched on laps, with the various naan breads and accompaniments spread across the coffee table. A low fire was burning in the grate, and Alex looked outside for the first time in hours, seeing that rain was falling heavily now, and a sea mist had rolled in, obscuring the grounds from view.

He settled in his chair and started to eat, listening to El update them on her day.

Ben groaned. “I can’t believe we missed another spriggan!”

“But it sounds like you’ve recorded the essence of one,” Briar pointed out. She was still seated next to the two unconscious witches, keeping a close eye on them while she ate what seemed to Alex like a tiny portion of food. “I can’t wait to see the footage.”

Dylan mumbled through a mouthful of curry, “I’ll put it on in a minute.”

Alex turned to El. “Did SOCO find anything while you were there?”

She frowned and shrugged as she tore a piece of naan. “They certainly searched the place thoroughly, and they took my footprints and fingerprints to rule me out, but I don’t know. I certainly couldn’t see anything obvious.”

“Did you pick up any magic signatures you might recognise again?” Avery asked.

“No. The place felt swept clean. It was only the news from the spriggan himself that told us anything.”

Cassie put her empty plate on the table, and said, “So there were two men and two women, one of whom was Jasmine—who is now dead.”

El nodded. “Yep, and we have no idea who the others are, except for the fact that the woman was blonde. Silver-haired as the spriggan said.” She shrugged again. “I’m presuming Mariah, but I hate to jump to conclusions. Newton hopes to come by later, so we’ll see if he has any updates. He was going to interview Ethan. Now your turn,” she said to Alex and Avery.

Alex said, “The spell is complex, heavily rooted in elemental water that harnesses the power of the sea, and it’s definitely a curse. I can understand why Serephina needed help to execute it.”

“But why has it affected Caspian and Reuben?” El asked.

“They hid the curse with the aid of another spell—obviously a strong one. We think,” he glanced at Avery, “that they did a kind of unveiling spell, and when that lifted, it knocked them out.” A thought struck him. “Maybe they had to veil the spell because it was so strong, rather than hide it just for the sake of it. It’s struggling to get off the page now, like it’s alive.”

He wasn’t sure he’d explained it very well, but the others nodded anyway, and Cassie asked, “Is that common, for a spell to try to escape like a living thing?”

“Bloody hell, no!” Avery exclaimed, horrified. “I can’t imagine anything worse. I can only think that it was a regular spell that they embellished, and it just became too much to control. Hence, the spell to contain it.” She sipped her wine, looking thoughtful. “I couldn’t make out any of the text, but Alex could—just a couple of lines. Enough so that we know it’s a very ugly curse.” She referred to the notes that she pulled from her jeans pocket. “It’s quite chilling. It says, ‘As your spirit leaves your body, it will be forever bound to the object of your desire.’ We’re presuming their desire is gold.”

“Seriously?” Cassie exclaimed. “Chilling doesn’t cover it at all!”

“I guess that explains why the spirits want vengeance,” El pointed out. She had settled into an armchair next to the fire, and was sipping her beer, all the while keeping an eye on Reuben. “I would, after that!”

Briar leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. “Was it directed at Coppinger and all his men?”

“Hard to say. The only other line I could make out was, ‘To all who have lost and failed to grow old, thou shall know their pain a thousand fold.’”

“A thousand fold?” Cassie repeated. “If that’s all you can read, what else is in that horrible spell?”

A silence fell on the room as they absorbed the enormity of the curse, and Ben nodded slowly. “So what now?”

“Great question,” Alex admitted. “We know there’s a curse, we assume it involves Coppinger, and we know it’s horrible, which helps us understand some of what’s happening. Potentially, when they found the first of Coppinger’s treasure in Looe, they disturbed the spriggan, and maybe the spirits of the three dead men. This could have been the trigger event for the other spirits to rise, maybe accidentally at first—”

“And then Mariah decided to strengthen the ghosts,” Avery cut in. She shook her head. “I still don’t understand how she knew this was related to Reuben and Caspian. I mean, did she decide that making the ghosts stronger would be fun, just for the sake of it? Or was it a calculated move to have her revenge on us? She’s never liked us, and feels Caspian has let her down.”

“Like Caspian said,” Alex reminded her, “she’s like me. She can commune with spirits. She must have talked to Coppinger…or his men. They would have told her what happened.”

“Which means they would have known who cursed them,” Briar said. “It must have happened up close and personal. But there’s still much we don’t know.”

“Like what Mariah did to make the ghosts stronger,” Alex admitted. “I’m not sure how she’s done that.” Alex glanced across to Reuben and Caspian. “What’s worrying me most is that we haven’t encountered Coppinger’s spirit yet. He could be stronger than all the others. And the anniversary of his death is tomorrow. But this doesn’t answer your question, Ben.” He turned to face him. “Now, we need to stop the spirits and send them back to where they belong. And that means dealing with Mariah.”

Dylan stirred. “Time for some light relief, I think.” He plugged his USB into the TV and in a few seconds had found the file. “I haven’t brought it all. I’m sure seeing big, magical clouds above certain places doesn’t interest you much, but this is Perranporth earlier this week.”

The film was shot on the beach, looking up towards the cliff top. Initially all it showed was a hazy blue glow along the cliffs, brighter at certain points. Then a flare of light flashed across the screen, leaving the image of a giant on the cliff top, two arms and two legs clearly visible. It seemed to watch the sea, and then as it turned they saw that it carried what appeared to be a club in its hands. It strode inland, taking gigantic strides, and then vanished into nothing again.

Alex could scarcely believe his eyes. “Holy shit.”

Dylan was grinning from ear to ear. “Impressive, right? You wait until we put this up on the website!”

Avery was still looking at the screen. “By the Gods! Are you telling me that thing is contained within that little spriggan that attacked us?”

“And me!” El said, half horrified, half impressed. “Amazing.” And then she stopped laughing and said, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend…right?”

“It’s too late to be philosophical,” Ben groaned.

“No, it’s not. The spriggans killed Jasmine because another spriggan died. It loathed ‘the silver one,’ which I took to mean that Mariah killed the spriggan. Maybe we could use its anger to help us?”

“I’m not sure,” Alex said warily. “The ones we met didn’t seem that bright or willing to listen to reason.”

“I’d forgotten you encountered two!” El said. “Maybe they were mated? To lose your mate, or even a friend, is good motivation.” Her face fell. “Mind you, I wouldn’t—no, couldn’t—go back down that mine again. It was a maze! A bloody death trap.”

“You might not need to,” Dylan suggested. “The creature clearly comes to the surface sometimes. Something to think about, I guess.”

“I thought you were going to film Gull Island again?” Alex asked.

Dylan looked doubtful. “I will, but it’s cold and wet out there now, and I’m not sure if we’ll pick up anything.”

A groan disturbed their conversation, and they all turned to look anxiously at Reuben and Caspian. Both of them now displayed a sheen of sweat on their pale faces, and Briar dropped to her knees next to them, running her hands above their bodies.

“We’re losing them, I can feel it. It’s like their spirits are sinking. We need to help them.”

“How?” Alex asked, already moving to her side.

“We lend them our strength.” She glanced around the room. “Quick! Circle, everyone. Now!”

Caspian’s thoughts were suddenly pierced by Briar’s sharp voice, and the notion of Avery’s body disappeared. Briar was calling to him, and he could feel his body again, sort of.

Part of him hated it. He’d never felt so happy, so content or complete. He tried to dive back into his dream state again, but Briar’s voice became louder, more insistent, and he felt a tug on his body as his aches and pains started to return.

As quickly as Avery disappeared, he thought of Reuben and shouted his name, hearing a faint cry in return. He had the feeling that if he followed Briar’s voice right now, he’d be back in his body, but then he’d lose Reuben, and he didn’t know if he could hear her, too.

Deciding to ignore her voice, he focussed on Reuben, and as if he was washed up by an incoming tide, he found himself on Reuben’s beach, blinking in the sun.

Reuben was standing on golden sand, surveying the sea, and he grinned at Caspian. “You made it!”

We have to leave!”

Caspian, you’re such a killjoy. Let me teach you to surf.”

I don’t want to learn to fucking surf! You’re dying!”

Caspian’s exasperation fuelled him. He was losing Reuben; El would lose Reuben. He was not going to be responsible for another Jackson’s death. Rage filled him, and without knowing quite how he did it, he tackled Reuben, knocking him to the sand, instantly feeling his own body become more real as he sat on Reuben’s chest and stared down at his shocked face.

Dude?”

Reuben, listen to Briar!”

You’re hallucinating!”

And then Briar’s voice broke through to them both, clear and commanding, and Reuben looked around, shocked.

How did you do that?”

I didn’t!”

Caspian knew he was in danger of slipping from the beach again, while Reuben just lay there, like a grinning idiot. He needed to anger him into action.

You know why I killed your brother? Because he was weak! And you are weak! Your whole family is weak, just like your friends.”

Reuben suddenly focussed. “What did you say?”

I said, I killed Gil deliberately, and would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Caspian was still kneeling on Reuben, but now Reuben reared up beneath him, throwing him to the side, and then punched him, again and again. “You bastard.”

Inexplicably, Caspian felt his lip split and his head thud against the sand, but he sneered at Reuben. “You bet I am!” And for good measure, he punched him back.

The beach vanished instantly, and so did Reuben.

Reuben! Where are you?”

Where are you, you shit?”

Right here! Can’t you find me, you idiot?

Caspian could feel Reuben’s rage, and also confusion, but before he could say anything else, Briar’s voice resounded around them as she summoned them. Voices cradled him, and then Caspian was sharply aware of feeling his aching wound, the warmth of indoors, and a hard surface beneath him.

His eyes flew open, and he took a sharp breath in, shooting upright. “Reuben!”

For a moment, Caspian couldn’t focus, and then he became aware of a circle of people around him. But it wasn’t them he was looking for. He twisted in panic, and then saw Reuben lying next to him, still out cold. Pain. That was what Reuben needed.

Without thinking, he punched Reuben’s wounded shoulder, and heard a gasp run around the watching circle. But he ignored them, holding his breath until Reuben’s eyes flew open and he shouted out, “That fucking hurt!”

Caspian started laughing hysterically, and fell back on the floor. Job done.