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NINA ARRIVES ON A SMALL island covered in sand. Curiously only a few red oaks trees stand. Taking in her surroundings, she sees that tree stumps scatter the island leaving it exposed to mother nature’s elements. Someone must have cultivated the power in these trees. Magic folk understand the story that the trees tell, they know of their location. The Red Witch is aware, Nina thinks. Nina walks to the top of the hill and sees the shipwrecked on the other side, half in water and the other half on land. A warm breeze touches her skin and hair, the sky is blue, and not a single cloud is in the air. The sea is calm; oddly there are no sounds of seagulls. Their calling is something Nina associates with the ocean and beach. A turquoise-blue sea reaches as far as the eye can see. Nina falls and stumbles down the sandbanks. Her shoes fill with fine sand with every step. She enjoys the sensation, and she decides to slide down reaching the bottom she stands scrutinising the ship.
There stood before her is the nameless ship. It must be the correct ship otherwise why would she be here? She ponders her task ahead and concludes that it looks easy. 'I'll get in, get the jewel and go back to auntie's house,' she thinks.
The ring is in the pouch. She takes it out and wears it. It's not glamorous. It's silver with a small red stone in the centre. Walking towards the broken hull, she hesitates to look inside. Light from the sun shines through the cracks and brakes of the wooden ship. A shaded corner at the rear hides what looks like shelves. Slowly stepping on the ship, it creaks and groans at the extra weight. Suddenly a bright light comes from the shelf, ‘this must be the jewel,' she thinks. Rushing forward not looking where she's going, she slips and lands with a thud on her back. It hurts. A few moments pass, and she is sitting up. She has fallen into a trap. Her witch's pouch has gone, but her telescope lies on the floor. Quickly picking it up she hides it in her jumper. The ground is frozen, ice and snow cover the walls. Above her, the sun shines lighting up another frozen cave. A fence imprisons her. In despair, she wonders how she will get the jewel, and she sighs. Rubbing her head from the fall, a movement in the corner fixes her eyes. Focusing, it is a man and woman huddled together in this cold prison. Nina chastises herself for being too brave for her own good at times, seeing no fear in the situation. She gets up and walks towards them.
‘Hello,' she said, ‘who are you?'
‘We are Mr and Mrs Foster.'
‘Oh wow,' Nina replies excitedly.
‘I'm Nina, I helped Dillwyn, he's at the order, and he is so sad and misses you so.'
Mr and Mrs Foster look at each other, worried. Mr Foster speaks.
‘I think this is a trap set for you, not us. The Black Cat has asked a lot of questions about magic items and a little witch. I'm guessing; this is you.'
Suddenly the ice crunches behind her. Nina turns to see what has sneaked up. There stands the largest cat she had ever seen. It has eyes bright green, and a scar on his face is showing signs of battle.
‘Don't vex him, he's called Mr Stupple, and if he scratches you, you will turn to ice.'
Nina doesn't feel afraid; maybe the fence will keep him from getting to them. Then walks around the side of him. A small ice goblin stands, holding an icy spear and her witch's pouch.
‘That is mine,' she demands.
With a loud hiss, Mr Stupple retorts.
‘You are brave for a young witch, but never mind, you will see who's in charge here, little girl.' He scoffs.
Mr Foster stands firm.
‘Leave her be; she's only a small child.'
‘You're brave as well; I guess you want to be turned to ice again,' he hisses.
The ugly ice goblin opens the gate, spear pointing towards them. The ice goblin is taller than the under-bed trolls, but a face so twisted it repulses Nina.
Mr Foster grabs Nina as the goblin comes through the gate followed by Mr Stupple. As they crouch on the floor, she huddles into Mr and Mrs Foster for protection. The goblin lifts his spear and points it at Nina as if to cast a spell. Nothing happens.
‘That's strange,' Mr Foster said.
But there on the floor, a message in ice forms in front of them.
‘I'm with you,' Nina reads out.
A look from Nina at the witch's pouch gives away her desire for it back. The goblin smirks as if taunting her to try and take it. Then, reaching into her jumper, she pulls out her telescope. The cat and goblin stand mystified at what is happening.
‘Grab hold of me,' Nina says to her new friends.
They do as she requests, unsure of the outcome. Lifting the telescope to her eye, she whispers.
‘The order.'
The cat and goblin run towards them, teeth and aggression showing intent. With just a few feet away Nina turns the eyepiece, and they are gone. Cat and goblin go tumbling through the thin air.
Nina and friends arrive at the order with a crash; the ice covers the ground where they land, freezing it and the grand mirror. Welcoming her there stands Dillwyn with Toots on his shoulder. Something distracts Nina from greeting her friends. It is Toots; his feathers have deteriorated; the white has taken hold of his beautiful fiery colours.
Dillwyn can't hold his emotions, breaking into joyful tears as his parents embrace him in their arms.
Toots flies to Nina. He spreads his wings and hugs her. Tears fall from his eyes on her shoulder.
Mr and Mrs Foster thank Nina and offer their never-ending support to bear with her anything she suffers.
Nina looks to Toots, picking him up to examine his feathers.
‘What is happening to my best friend?' Nina looks despondent and doesn't know what to do.
‘Have you seen Relck?' She hopes to see her brother again.
‘No. I fear we will not see Relck again, at least not like he used to be, maybe as a Watcher though,' he hoped.
‘Who's helping you with this curse?' She changes the subject abruptly.
‘Everyone has tried to find a way to help me; the confounded owls don't have an answer. Raspy is not taking it well; he is constantly with the inventor. He hasn't rested, and you know how he is when he gets under stress.' Toots smiles as much as an owl can with a beak.
‘I have lost my witch's pouch to the cat and goblin.'
‘You have faced a goblin and escaped, how?' He asks.
‘My gift from Mr and Mrs Tinkerer, the Telescope of Time.'
‘Wow,’ hoots appeared impressed. ‘What are we going to do?'
‘Go to Grandma's. We need help, and it is not working you being here. I can't lose you to this curse. I've lost my brother. I would be alone without you. I will face all danger to save you.'
Toots wraps his wings around Nina, tears falling from his eyes marking Nina's clothes with a red stain. Nina notices the stain.
‘Why are your tears red?' She looks confused.
‘They're not; they turned red when they hit you. What does this mean?'
‘I don't know; we must see Grandma.'
Lifting her telescope from her pocket, Toots is nervous.
‘Does it turn you inside out?'
Nina laughs. ‘You are a funny bird.' Then it's goodbye to her new friends. She lifts the back lens to her eye, pausing to look at Toots.
‘Yes, I'm afraid it does turn you inside out?'
Toots pauses, daunted, beak and eyes wide open. Nina smiles, and whispering turns the front lens.
‘Auntie Paulina's.'
And they are gone, arriving at Auntie Paulina's. Mother sits at the dining room table. She greets them with a hug and a warm smile.
‘How's Dad?' Nina asks.
‘He's working hard to find a way to bring Relck back. But we're unsure whether it's possible after your Grandpa tricked them with spells and wizardry. They won't fall for that again. Grandma's making spells if you want to see her,' said Mother, winking as if to keep the secret.
Noticing the red marks on Nina's top, Mother looks bewildered.
‘What's this,' she asks?' ‘and where's your witch's pouch?'
Nina sits down and explains everything. She tells her mother what's happening and how Relck helped her escape by stopping the goblins magic and just allowing her enough time to use her magic to get out of harm's way.
‘I also met Mr Stupple, the black cat.'
‘Yes, we know him, he's the one that gave the Watcher the scare on his face. I should have guessed him to be involved with this. He must be helping the goblins to try and arise from the other world, after all, that's where he is most familiar with.' He has a story all of his own, but that is for another time, my dear.'
Nina voices her intentions.
‘I will speak to Grandma; you wait here Toots will you.'
‘Good,' Toots chirps, ‘at least the old dear will not try and eat me.'
Nina giggles, raising her eyebrows as she walks to the front door. She heads to the lift and presses the button; when it arrives, a strange feeling comes over her, a sense that someone is there or watching her. Is it the Red Witch or Relck maybe? She reasons it must be the Red Witch because she has an uncomfortable feeling about it. But her Grandma and the Red Witch can't be the same person, can they? She presses the top floor button three times. The lift jolts to its end journey. Stopping at the roof the doors open, the sixth sense that someone is there remains. It's dark out, and a small glow comes from the secret door. Nina walks towards it and knocks three times. Surely Grandma knows that this clue, the rhythmic pounding, is Nina. A creak of grinding metal as the doorknob turns and then the light from within shines bright, Dazzling Nina as she raises her arms to protect her eyes. Without warning a gust of wind rushes overhead. Nina is startled and looks above to see what's attacking her. A loud cackle echoes through the night sky, the moon lights up a silhouette of a witch flying on a broomstick.
Grandma drags Nina in.
‘Come on my dear; there are spells to be made.'
‘But that witch has just tried to attack me.' Nina protests.
Grandma looks at Nina, unimpressed. ‘If you say so dear.'
Nina is angry and taken aback.
‘Don't you believe me, Grandma?'
‘Ah, ignore her she's just showing off.'
Nina's confused, does she know the Red Witch or is she just pacifying her because she doesn't believe her? Moving on Grandma shouts out the ingredients needed for the spells.
‘Tail of newt, whisker of rat, wart of toad and red bark from the great red oak trees.'
Nina stands in shock, what is going on? Does Grandma cut down the red oak trees? Is it her ship that lets magic folk cut down the trees? Nina's perplexed at how access can be gained to cut down the red oak trees. Her Grandma's not telling her anything. Nina keeps her feelings to herself and hands Grandma the ingredients. She notices the spell book. It's crimson red, and on it, there's a strange symbol. It stands out. ‘What does this symbol mean Grandma?'
‘Ah, you noticed have you? I should have guessed really; you're different. A bit like me, but not as clever.' She winks.
Grandma always winks when she doesn't mean what she says. Nina waits for an answer, looking straight at Grandma.
‘Okay, okay stop giving me the witches look.'
Grandma puts in the ingredients.
‘I'll let it bubble for a bit.'
Nina sits studying Grandma, her white locks of hair tatters hang over her face. The lines of her worn face show a life of worry. She has an intense look about her. Piercing green eyes touch you inside as if she can control your senses or see your soul. Even though she is her Grandma, Nina feels intimidated by her.
Grandma smiles and begins to tell her tale.
‘There is a cursed family that live forgotten by the world. They are called the Blackthorns. They are a timeless magic family, joined in marriage to the Waterstones. The Waterstones were cursed by a great family (the Oakwells) who lived alongside them. A feud started when two children couldn't get along. These families oversaw the order and then came a divide when the Oakwells eldest son put a curse on a familiar, a person who associated with the order leaders. The spell backfired, and the curse hit the Waterstones as well as the familiar. The young boy was called Relck, your Great Grandpa. He trapped himself in a world of the missing as we witch’s call it, trapped for 200 years waiting for someone to open it and release them. Back home.
There's a lot of information for Nina to take in, and she doesn't fully understand the context of what's happening or has happened. She's just a little girl.
Nina frowns. Relck's names from him? She suggests.
She didn't get the answer she wanted.
‘You are like me my dear; it seems people will rely on you, and hope you will save them from the pain of life but you will not know gratitude or understanding.'
Grandma continued, avoiding some questions.
‘The owls run the order, the magic they hold hides within their feathers, and it's powerful beyond the magic of a witch or wizard. This Halloween day will see this family of witches and wizard become human and their true selves. The curse is said to have changed because they have werewolves blood in their veins, although not all the kinfolk are werewolves, you will see.'
Grandma smiles.
‘I will take you there this Hallows Eve. You are of an age where you can test yourself with the cauldron, one drink and it shows your shadow on the ground. It points to what or who you are to become in future.'
Nina is enthralled by the tale and stands motionless. She has a lot to reflect on. Many things make sense to her now. Somehow, she feels that she belongs. She reflects on Relck disappearing and the absence of her best friend, Toots. Life is here still, with people to help. Life is hard; she sighs to herself.
‘Pass me a vile one of the small ones to put this potion in.' Grandma cackles.
‘Yuk, I have to drink it?' Nina chuckles, knowing all too well the answer.
‘Yes, I'm afraid so.' Grandmas smirks at the foul taste.
She ‘shoos' Nina along with a wave of her hands.
‘Retrieve the witches eye and use the potion. It will make you invisible and harder to find unless you're noisy and encumbered with magic findings.'
Nina feels that this is what Grandma herself would like to do. Leaving the secret rooftop door, she heads to the lift. Pressing the button to Auntie Paulina's the lift starts its journey. She can't help but think of her family’s past. It gives her strength. The lift stops, breaking her train of thought. She walks to Paulina's. Opening the door, Toots sits with her mother who is looking through books trying to see how to break the curse.
‘Hi, you're back,' her mother says with a smile.
Toots gives the nod to acknowledge she notices her best friend.
‘Progress is slow,' Mother sighs.
‘You must retrieve that witches eye, Nina.' She says, forcibly.
‘I'm off now, are you coming Toot’s?'
‘No, he can't go with you, it's a necessity he stays safe for now.' Mother says firmly. Nina is upset and doesn't understand her mum's behaviour.
‘I'll speak to Toots when I return, Nina says,' while reaching into her pocket for her only means of magic. She puts up the telescope to her eye, noticing Toots and Mother watching in awe. She whispers:
‘The sunken grotto.'
And she is gone. Once there, it is dark. A big white moon dips into the sea on the edge of the horizon. The air is calm making an eerie silence; noise will carry she thinks, remembering what Grandma said about being laden with magic items. ‘I'll get in and straight out, avoiding the traps,' she thinks, reassuring herself. Treading slowly and silently in the soft grains of sand making a slight impact sound from her footsteps, Nina arrives at the ship. Then reaching for her witch's pouch, she remembers she doesn't have it. That horrible looking thief ice goblin has it. She pulls the potion Grandma gave her from her pocket and unscrews the lid, and not taking a second breath, swallows it. It tastes disgusting just like the last one. But does it even work? Her footprints remain indented in the sand; she takes a step inside the wreck. The ring still works, the jewel shines brightly. Avoiding the ice cave trap, she treads with care. Reaching within a few feet from the jewel, a creak of wood startles her. A sixth sense kicks in that something is with her. A shape moves out from within the shadows. It's Mr Stupple. He hisses as if he knows where she is. Frightened that the potion didn't work, she freezes in fear.
‘I know you are there, little witch. You may be invisible, but l can smell you.'
What can she do? She's nowhere near the jewel; how can she retrieve it? A thought comes to her, her Grandma. She remembers Grandma said don't be laden with magic items; but this can mean the opposite, bring as many back as she can? But will it work? Looking at the shelves full of books, scrolls and all manner of objects, she has an idea. ‘If I were to touch the shelf can I transport it to the order and take the jewel without anyone noticing, back to Grandma.' She has no time to waste before Mr Stupple finds her. Of this she is sure. Placing the black telescope lens to her eye, she leans on the shelves as gently as she can. Turning the front lens, she whispers.
‘The order.' Off she goes.
With an almighty crack, she lands on the floor in the great hall of the order. It's worked! Looking around nobody has seen her. They just stand in amazement at the shelves. Grabbing the jewel, she puts the telescope to her eye and quickly turns the front lens.
‘Grandma's,' she whispers.
Arriving at Grandma's the dining room's empty. Toots and Mother are not there. The books remain, but there is no sign of anyone. Looking in Grandma's room, only silence greets her. I will have to try home. Placing the back lens of the telescope to her eye, she whispers.
‘Home.'
Arriving in her bedroom, it's getting late as well as dark outside. This travelling to different places makes her disoriented. She hears a loud voice and noise from downstairs and has no idea who's sounding off. The creaking stairs give away her presence, and she opens the kitchen door. There stand Grandma, Mother and Dad. They look around as if not seeing her.
Dad speaks.
‘Nina is that you? We can't see you.'
‘Yes, Dad she replies. I'm at the table edge.'
Reaching out he feels for his precious daughter, invisible yes, but there in body. Hugging her tight, they chuckle.
‘You're a remarkable girl,' he commended her.
‘Right it's getting late; you must get some rest Nina,' Mother said. Hopefully, the spell will have worn off by morning. Nina said her goodnight and took her invisible body off to bed. Grabbing Toots, he hoots, ‘aha ghost,' with a yell, from the corner of his beak. The Whosley's chuckle under pressure. A warm glow fills their hearts. Getting undressed for bed, as Toots yawns his little head off, ‘night Nina I'm with you, he says.' She climbs into her comfy bed so happy to be home and soon sleeps. Suddenly a yowl comes from outside. Nina jumps from her sleep. She looks out the window. Her heart nearly stops, it's Mr Stupple. What does he want? Angrily she decides to confront him, but without a wand, she had no protection. Only her magic gift can help her. I've had enough she thinks, sneaking past her parent's room because she doesn't want to wake them and put them in danger. As Mr Stupple continues to yowl, Nina puts on a coat and leaves by the back door. Her neighbour hangs from a bedroom window. As she enters the back garden, the air is still much warmer as if spring has returned and this cold curse has finally lifted.
‘Shut that cat up, freaky spooks!' This is what the neighbours think of the Whosley's!
Nina approaches Mr Stupple, angry at what the neighbour is shouting but stops a safe distance away.
‘What do you want?' Nina asks.
‘I've brought you a gift.' He hisses.
‘Why would you bring me a gift?'
‘A peace offering of sorts. We got off on the wrong foot. He quickly throws her witch's pouch towards her, withdrawing his paw back to the shade. But as he does Nina catches a glimpse of him from the shade of the tree where he's hidden. He's different in the moonlight. There's something not right.
‘We got off on the wrong foot, I thought I'd make introductions, and we could start again as friends.'
‘Friends?' Nina scoffs.
‘I can understand your apprehension. But there's a lot you don't know little girl.'
Calling her little girl, Mr Stupple got his control. This made her feel belittled, and she knew he was overconfident with this remark.
‘Nina turns to leave.'
‘Wait, wait. I've got more to tell you,' the cat hisses. ‘If you'll only listen.'
‘I've got sleep to catch up on, little cat.' Nina snaps.
‘Ah, my apologies Nina I didn't mean to be rude.' He calls her by name for the first time. Nina doesn't like it.
‘May I explain please?' Nina turns and looks back at him.
‘Okay, for a short while you have my ear, but no tricks.' She insists.
‘All I want is to find my son.'
‘Your son?' Nina is confused.
‘Yes, a lot of years ago, more years than I care to remember, when my boy was young, we were seeking a magic item lost to the world. He went into a house, a room hidden from the world. He never returned, can you imagine how that feels to lose a son?' He is sincere. She can tell by the tone of his voice. Giving him the benefit of the doubt she listens. ‘Since then all I've done is the search for him, the world is against finding him. When I think I'm close, I'm no nearer to finding him. Inside it tears me apart, a sickness, a feeling of pain in my heart. What I do know is that there was a witch inside this room and she must have been very powerful to have'...
He pauses, gathering himself and his thoughts. 'Well, you can guess what happened as much as me. There is a place where the missing are trapped. A dark magic kept them from this world and trapped in another. They say this world is like no other, full of wonder and magic. But one day something changed all that. An old wizard cast a curse to the entrance of this place, taking hundreds of souls inside. This cursed place where the souls of the damned are heard screaming.'
Nina is shocked listening. Is this all true or a ruse to trick her? She doesn't think he's lying, his story is a sad one, and she can't blame him for wanting to find his son.
‘How do you know so much about this place but don't know where it is?' She asks.
‘Magic items and reading peoples' minds. No one wants to help me, and it's up to me to keep trying to find him. I took the trolls magic net,' he says, by way of an explanation.
Noise from a nearby tree behind Mr Stupple startled him.
‘There are worse things than me out tonight I fear.' He said, with a worried tone.
‘I must go,' he hurriedly stated, frightened of any confrontation in the darkness. He throws Nina's bag to her as a parting gift. After all, it is hers.
Father and Mother appear behind Nina, let us be parents, Father exclaims! They were the ones making the noise.
Next morning Mother gives Nina instructions to collect some limes from the trees out front. ‘A key lime pie is in order today,' she suggests. Nina thinks this nice; she can't ever remember tasting key lime pie before. Grabbing Mother's whack basket, she leaves by the front door. It clicks behind her followed by the door knocker that rattles. It's a wolf's head in brass. Nina has not taken much notice of this before. As she steps onto the front garden path, the day is still. The sound of songbirds whistling their song fills the street. The birds have all returned from their winter migration. With it, they bring life to the streets once again. Leaving towards the road the gate is hanging off its top hinge. ‘Mother will have to fix it. Father's terrible at fixing things,' she laughs at the thought of it.
John Thomas was on the front playing with a big stick by the trees, as she looks up, their eyes meet. An uncomfortable silence emerges as they work each other out. Nina notices what he's doing. Nina smiles. ‘Hello, how are you?' She breaks the silence. ‘I'm fine,' he smiles, wanting to engage in conversation. ‘I'm not supposed to speak to you.' ‘Why?' Nina frowns. ‘Father said you are witches and evil lurk in your house.' Nina chuckles, ‘oh I must have left my broomstick in the house,' she half smiles. John Thomas doesn't really think they are witches. ‘Where's your Mother?' She asks. ‘I don't have one. Dad won't talk about her. I don't even know her name.' John Thomas seems desensitised, unable to show his feelings. It's a big issue for Nina, and she has a natural drive to care for others before herself. Looking at his basket, she asks kindly, ‘do you want a hand?'
Suddenly a loud bellow comes from an upstairs window of John Thomas's house. ‘Get in,' his Father demands. John Thomas puts his head down as if fearful of what is going to happen to him.
‘Will you be okay? Nina asks softly. ‘I have to go,' he said and dashes off into his front door. His father is stood looking from his bedroom window glaring menacingly.
Nina completes her task sheepishly, under the watchful eyes of Mr Thomas, as she gathers the limes from the lower branches. Returning home, she places the basket on the kitchen table. Mother has her pinkie on ingredients, and at the ready, she has two bowls. Nina knows one is for her. Nina's not keen on cooking but loves the time baking with Mother. Stood at the kitchen side as Father watches in interest, this is Mothers domain. Her dad once told her that her mother can always complete one hundred more tasks than he ever could. Nina took this that he was proud of his wife. Just one of the things that made Mother so mysterious to him.
Nina asks about John-Thomas and his Mother.
‘It is a sad, realistic truth to life, not even the most awesome witch or wizard can stop sad things happening. ‘John-Thomas lost his Mother as he came into this world. The greatest thing a parent can do is save their child and the saddest. But no one could be prouder of her, and we will always remember her.'
Nina frowns. ‘So, you knew her?' Yes, replied Mum. We were friends with the Thomas family, and then she vanished. But the dark entered John-Thomas's Father's heart. We make these pies to get rid of the memory of it for them all. Nina looks bewildered and confused; she can't truly understand what has passed.
Mother sees the blank expression on Nina's face and tries to explain.
So, we make the key lime pie; limes are the main ingredient in potions to make people forget. Father usually tries to feed me some when he's attempted some DIY or has broken something,' she laughs, just like Grandma. Father and Daughter grin, noticing the likeness, but not letting on to Mother.
That day went quickly, just as a family doing normal things if you call making a key lime pie spell normal. Once cooked the pies cooled in the kitchen. The smell was inviting and intense making Nina hungry and tempting a taste, a treat such as this! But knowing the ingredients she resisted her urges, reasoning the consequences of even one bite. Mother indicates to Father and Nina with a look and smiles; the pie is ready. She takes out her wand from the kitchen draw; Nina doesn't often see Mother make a spell. She lifts the wand and whispers an inaudible spell. A shower of sparks flows outwards. Mother’s appearance changed, and she formed into Mr’s. Cuthbard the lady from the local bakers. She picked up the pies and left by the front door smiling with a look of purpose. Nina and father watched from the living room window as mother knocked on Mr Thomas’s door. Not realising what he saw before him Mr Thomas took the gift of the pies from the recognisable baker. Little known to him she was a ruse to help him forget. Later that afternoon Nina and father were in the garden a noise from the Thomas family garden startled them. Looking over the fence Mr Thomas was playing with John-Thomas, an unusual seen but a happy thought of the joy it brings of what mother has acted upon. Father looked at Mr Thomas a glance from one another father raised his hand and smiled, Mr Thomas returned the gesture. Father turned to Nina leaving them in privacy. Nina smiled at father. Will they be happy now’? ‘Only for a short while, the potion will fade they will have a beautiful day together’. Nina smiled proudly to have such a caring family.
That night Nina stays at the order in the dorm hoping for some communication from Relck, but the night was long as she tossed and turned in her borrowed bed. The only solace is she is with friends and Toot’s overlooks her while she rests.