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ARRIVING IN THE LIVING room of Auntie Paulina's. There at the table sits Mother, Grandma and Auntie. The family greet Nina who is distracted by Paulina, whose dress in a floral vintage style dress and her hair up in a bun. She is a tall woman, but not feminine. She is caring but not as gentle as her own mother. Nina's eyes meet her mothers.
‘What's this?' Mother asks in amazement.
‘It's a gift from Mr and Mrs Tinkerer. 'Where's Relck?' She asks abruptly. Strangely Mother's disinterested in what Nina's been doing.'
‘Sit down my child,' Mother said with a sombre voice and glum look on her face. Nina senses that something has happened to Relck.
Auntie Paulina gets up.
‘I'll make a pot of tea, with biscuits this time.' She smiles, making light of a situation.
‘What is it?' Nina asks, raising her voice.
‘Relck has taken the oath; he has become a Watcher.'
Mother bursts into tears, putting her head in her hands. Trying to hide her feelings, Grandma rubs her back trying to console her daughter. Grandma's not good at this sort of thing; her motherly nature dulled away with time.
Nina slumps into a chair.
‘Why? What does that mean?'
‘I'll tell you from the beginning,' said Mother who is sat in expectancy, fearing the worst of what has happened.
‘When Relck was born, he was a restless child. Something was wrong with him. He would not sleep and has not slept a wink of sleep in his life.
‘What, he has never slept, that explains a lot.' Nina smirks.
Red-faced, Mother half smiles in acknowledgement. Breathing deep, Mother continues.
‘He would cry for some unknown reason. The tears fell for months, and we were at our wit's end, your Father became angry, and a feeling of hopelessness loomed over us. We were unable to communicate with our precious boy. Something had cursed him, so we thought. Our family was divided, Grandma lived at sea with your Grandpa, only your aunt was around, we tried everything we could to lift this horrid curse. Then one day a Watcher came calling, hearing Relck's cry. Once he approached Relck the crying stopped. We didn't know who the Watchers were and thought them our enemy. It turned out we had a special son, a Watcher. A gift so rare we have never heard of it before. But there is a downside to it. When they take the oath, they become a Watcher for life, with one gift, the power to stop magic. No matter how powerful the magic is, the Watchers can stop the witches or wizard’s gifts how they see fit. Your Grandpa and Grandma were free spirits, should we put it.'
Grandma interrupted. ‘We were pirates'. ‘We all have secrets, don't we dear', looking at Mother and Auntie Paulina.
‘What, you were a pirate!' Nina's bemused, almost impressed.
‘Yes,' Grandma's face gleams. She's so proud of being a pirate!
Mother interrupted and continued scowling unimpressed. Feeling the resentment, Nina looks uncomfortable.
‘Your Grandpa was born a Watcher, little to our knowledge. But when news of Relck reached your grandparents a choice had to be made to help Relck.'
‘What happened?' Nina asks frustratingly.
Mother continues with the tale.
‘Your Grandpa had to become a Watcher, so Relck could live as a wizard before he was forced to turn. Your Grandpa found a magic way to hide from the Watchers for years. My Mother and Father vanished out to sea to hide. They thought this the best for us, a sacrifice for the family who always comes first. The same burden became Relck's choice. He had to choose to become a Watcher to protect you. We had no idea what happened to you, at the time. She raises her eyes to Auntie Paulina. ‘The mirror was blocked off after you left, and it had to be unblocked by magic'. Auntie Paulina smiled as if knowing something.
‘That is when Relck decided he could not chance you disappearing and made a deal with the Watchers. Both Relck and your Grandpa are now with the Watchers, and we will only see them for a short time, through our lives.'
Scarlet eyes show Grandma is upset. Nina notices a tear fall from her eye. Grandma gets up from the table and goes into her bedroom. Nina realises what Grandma and Grandpa have sacrificed helping their family. She now understands why Relck decided to become a Watcher, but sadness hides inside Nina ready to burst out.
‘What can we do now to help Relck?'
Mother replied,
‘I'm sorry my dear, nothing. You should speak to your Father. He needs you, and you both have a bond'.
‘Where is he?' Wait I know where he is. She smiles, a witch’s sense, the family calls it. Nina always knows where her father is.
‘Yes, he's at home sat in his spot in the garden under the oak tree, maybe trying to find knowledge, as we know oak trees have the power of knowledge.'
‘I'll go to him and see what I can do to help.'
She reaches into her witch's pouch, takes it aside and brings out the coveted telescope. Leaving Grandma's care to Mother. Placing the eyepiece to her eye, she turns the lens and whispers.
‘Home.'
Then she is gone. Arriving in the garden, she can see Father sitting under the oak tree. He looks over. A smile fills his face.
‘What have you got there my clever girl?'
‘It's my magic gift from Mr and Mrs Tinkerer. It's called the Telescope of Time, she says, smiling back at Father.'
Nina is quite pleased with her new toy.
‘What are we going to do about Relck?' There is an aching hole in her heart.
‘I've looked through all the books and spells; there's nothing on the Watchers in any of them. It's as if they don't exist. But there is a story of the witch’s eye. A gem black as black can be, and whoever possesses this magic item can see whomever they want to and speak to them as if they were in the same room. The story does say that there are limits to its powers but doesn't emphasise what.'
‘I'll speak to Grandma, she might know. After all, she was a pirate.' She's just letting her father know father she's aware.
‘Oh, you know about that, eh!' He laughs as if it's not strange that Grandma was once a pirate.
‘Be careful my dear, I'm with you,' he says, with a reassuring nod and a big hug.
Reaching for the telescope, she places the back-eyepiece to her eye and turns the front lens whispering.
‘Grandma's.' Then she's gone.
Arriving at Auntie Paulina's the living room is empty. Looking down the hall, she thinks Grandma is maybe still upset. She might be in her room. Nina walks to her bedroom. There is no noise. Knocking on the door, she hears a voice. ‘Come in my dear.'
Nina's not happy about being called dear. Edging the door open, Grandma is still upset. Nina can see this just from her posture and low head, not to mention her red eyes.
Walking over, Nina sits on the bed with Grandma.
‘Do you need anything?' Grandma smiles.
‘You are the only person who is thoughtful and straight,' she said with a smile.
‘What do you mean?'
‘Everyone tries to make me feel valued, all by good intentions; but not seeing what it is in front of them. Ruby-May is upset. Trying to say I feel like I do because of your Grandpa. Which in part is true, only your Mam's reaction is mixed with sadness and probably feeling helpless, with confused feelings about the situation. But I have lived with this for what seems an age, but it does not prepare you for the loneliness. I feel content we sacrificed our life together for the family, it is the greatest feeling, but the sadness remains inside.'
Nina understands to a point what everyone is feeling, and she has never heard Grandma Call Mother Ruby-May. It seems informal.
‘But you have a strange knack for seeing it for what it is. You must take after me,' Grandma cackles. Nina smiles, happy to have spent this time getting to know Grandma.
‘Here you are.' Grandma hands Nina a book.
‘What is it?'
‘Nasharie visited and told me what you need. She has been looking out for you.'
‘I haven't seen her'?
‘You won't see her my dear; unless she wants you to, or if there's danger around, she will remain hidden.'
‘What's in the book?'
‘A story of the sunken grotto, the cave, me and your Grandpa spent years searching for clues. We found a wooden staff and in it is the witches eye. It is an old piece of twisted wood from a red oak tree.'
‘Red oak trees?'
Nina frowns, confused, not hearing of this tree before.
‘Yes, it is said that they and the wrecked grotto are in the same place. We happened on the wooden shaft by chance. We would sail upon any un-expecting ships, freeze everyone on board with magic, then take half of what they had. We knew the stories of the witch’s eye, and the shaft fits the description, so we took it. I loved being a pirate, the open sea, and being free of the daily tasks. You must get sick of it sometimes Nina?'
Pondering over what she is saying, Nina loves the stories and the excitement of being a pirate. But she is unsure about taking peoples belongings.
‘No, I don't think I could take what's not mine, Grandma. I would love to be a pirate, but I like helping people more. Every morning when I wake I can't wait to see what the day will bring, danger, excitement and making new friends is all I want.'
Grandma smiles.
‘We are so proud of you; I wonder what kind of witch you are going to become.'
‘Are there different kinds, Grandma?'
‘Oh yes, you will meet them on your adventures. They will get to know you, and you will make new friends, especially on All Hallows Eve. You have new friends to meet; you are old enough now.'
‘That is months away!'
‘Yes, but it's something to look forward to, my dear.' She smiles with a cheeky grin.
‘Right let's look at where you need to go. I reckon your new magic gift can take you there. I wonder what you'll find, but in the book, it does say the hull is full of curiosity to the person worthy. Here's a drawing of the ship and island. Just be careful. I don't think this will be straightforward. I recommend it best to get in and out as swiftly as you can. The gem is black, and the size of a hand so should be easy to find. Best be off my dear. Remember, I'm with you, all you have to do is look for me in anything that reflects.'
Getting up from the bed, Grandma hugs and kisses Nina on her head. Nina has the feeling that Grandma wants to experience her freedom again.
Grandma has never indeed shown much affection to her before. And this seems odd to Nina. Giving Nina something in a closed fist, Grandma says, ‘Here use this, the magic item will shine brightly when you're near it, shush,' she winks. It must be a secret magic ring, and Grandma doesn't want anyone to know that this is true.
‘Be safe my dear.'
Nina reaches into her witch's pouch pulling out the telescope. She places her eye to the rear lens and whispers the words, 'the sunken grotto,' and turning the front lens; she leaves. Without help from Toots and Relck, this prompts negative thoughts of what she may find.