Magic Unbound

by TJ Green

  Newton looked at them, frowning. “So, how long has Faversham been involved?”

  Avery shrugged. “Since the beginning. We think he’s the one responsible for the demons.”

  “So, he’s the one responsible for killing the woman in the car and the cleaner in the museum?’

  “Maybe,” Alex said. “He did kill Gil. We saw it.”

  “I think that was a pretty important thing to leave out of your statement,” Newton said, clearly annoyed.

  “He conjured a bloody great rock monster and slammed Gil against the wall. If it hadn’t been for Avery, we’d probably all be dead. How would you like me to phrase that in a statement?”

  Newton looked as if he would argue, but then he nodded and sighed.

  Avery decided she’d had enough of secrets. “Newton, you need to tell us about your part in this. You know magic, you know us. We’ve levelled with you, now please, be honest.”

  “You haven’t told me everything, Avery.”

  “We’ve told you a lot.”

  “What are the hidden grimoires?” He leaned against the counter, watching her.

  It didn’t seem worth lying about anything else to him. It was strange, but despite the little they knew of him, she trusted him. “They’re our old family grimoires, hidden from the Witchfinder General back in the 16th century. From what we can piece together, Helena—my ancestor—was betrayed, or set up by her accusers—the Favershams—and burnt at the stake. The other families tried to argue for her, but it didn’t work, and after she died, they moved and the grimoires were lost, until now. We’re still foggy on the details. “

  Alex added, “We don’t have all of the grimoires—only three. Faversham threatened us to get them. He wasn’t joking.”

  Newton groaned and put his last bite of pizza on the counter. He looked at Avery and Alex, his grey eyes tired. “All my life I have been warned about this, warned that it may happen in my generation, but we are always warned, and then the threat passes. But now it seems it’s true.”

  Alex looked nervous. “What’s true?”

  “That my real job is just starting.”

  Avery gaped. “What are you talking about?”

  “The soul of old Octavia Faversham is bound with a demon’s and lies somewhere beneath White Haven. Your ancestors put it there, and it’s my job to keep it there.”

  Alex looked stunned. “Is that a joke?”

  “No, unfortunately not.” Newton looked as sane as anyone could after uttering such a bizarre sentence.

  A horrible trickle of fear ran down Avery’s spine. “The spell in the back of the grimoires. Is that what it is? A binding spell?”

  “It could be. I have no idea where they put Octavia’s soul, or how they did it. I just know it was performed by all the witches to contain Octavia and her pet demon, and as a threat to the rest of the Favershams to back off.”

  “And you didn’t think to tell us?” Alex asked, furious again. “You’ve known, all this time!”

  Newton looked at the floor, and then back at Alex. “I didn’t know. This information is passed down, generation to generation. How do I know what’s relevant or not? I never really believed it, if I’m honest.” He appealed to both of them. “I mean seriously, demons?”

  He had a point, Avery had to admit. She could scarcely believe it herself, and she was a witch.

  “And,” Newton continued, “these activities have only happened a few times before. Approximately once every century.”

  Avery sighed. “Addison Jackson.”

  Newton narrowed his eyes. “Yes. How did you know?”

  “Anne’s research—Gil’s cousin. I’ve been trying to build a picture as to what happened to Addison. But Lindon said he committed black magic—killed his family for the grimoires.”

  “No. That was a lie that was fed to his family and descendants. He fled, with his wife and children into hiding to protect them. I believe he did use black magic—blood magic—to conceal them. But he didn’t kill them. I’m hoping he had a happy, peaceful life.”

  “Oh, great,” Alex said. “He just left Gil’s side of the family to mop up the mess.”

  “I didn’t say he was perfect,” Newton said, reaching for another slice of pizza.

  Avery’s head was reeling, and she was pleased to see Alex looked just as shocked. “The Favershams threatened him back then?”

  “So I’ve been told. And the times before then, too, in other generations. There’s a reason witches leave White Haven.”

  “Yeah, so I keep being told, too,” Alex agreed. “Well, it ends here. I refuse to be chased out of my town by some thieving necromancer and his crooked family. And when we find the other grimoires, we’ll be more powerful and far harder to manipulate.”

  “Hold on,” Avery said, thinking furiously. “The grimoires have two functions. They detail powerful spells that we’ve never come across before, and they contain one hidden binding spell that was used to bind Octavia Faversham and her demon. We have no idea what Faversham wants, but presumably the latter. Does this mean they want to break out Octavia’s soul?”

  Alex looked baffled. “I guess so.”

  “But why? What relevance does it have? I mean, what did she do that was so bad that she was bound in the first place, and why is it so important to release her and her pet demon? They have demons coming out of their ears!”

  “Didn’t your demon-hunting, White Haven-saving ancestors pass that one down, Newton?” Alex asked.

  “It seems not,” Newton snapped. “I guess your demon-binding, soul-snatching ancestors didn’t, either.”

  Oh great, Avery thought. Testosterone. “Guys, we need a plan. You said it, Alex. We’re being attacked. Gil’s been killed. This is not a game. We need to protect ourselves, and work out a way to attack them first. I hate being on the back foot. And, who are they? We need to know! Faversham and who?”

  “Well, I guess that’s where I come in,” Newton said. “I have access to records you can’t get to. I’ll check out Faversham’s family, his contacts, everyone. Then we’ll know who we’re up against.”

  ***

  They spent the rest of the evening waiting for Reuben to wake, and looking at the grimoires and the documents.

  Newton was behaving less like a policeman and more like a friend. Avery had offered to show him what they’d found and he sat on the sofa, looking through the papers and the transcripts of the trial.

  “What’s your first name?” Avery asked Newton. She was sitting on the floor next to Alex, looking through the three spell books, a witch light hovering between them. “I mean, calling you Newton seems rude.”

  He looked up, the ghost of a smile on his face. “Mathias, or Matt, but everyone calls me Newton, so you can stick with that.”

  “Fair enough. What do you think of the papers?”

  “Interesting. And chilling. I don’t suppose you’d care to tell me where you found them?”

  “Not really,” Alex said, bristling for an argument again.

  Newton raised his eyebrows. “Probably for the best. I’ve heard about my ancestors and the Witchfinder General, but reading these threatening letters makes it more real. It makes my blood boil, actually.”

  “At least your ancestor wasn’t burnt at the stake,” Avery pointed out.

  Newton nodded, “True.”

  Briar came out of the bedroom and stretched. “Now I need pizza. Is there some left?”

  “Is Reuben okay?” Avery asked.

  “He’s fine. It was touch and go for a while—his head injury was huge, and his arm was badly bruised.” Briar looked shattered, but still very pretty. Her long, dark hair was half tied on top of her head, the rest cascaded down her shoulders. She wore a long, dark red summer dress that set off her hair, and made her skin look even paler. Newton did a double-take, and leapt to his feet.

  “Sit down, Briar, let me.” He ushered her to the sofa, and then went to get her some food and a glass of wine. Briar seemed oblivious to his
attentiveness, but Avery wasn’t. Maybe something good would come out of this after all.

  Briar sank into her usual corner and within seconds Newton had handed her a glass of wine. “Pizza will be a few more minutes,” he said.

  “I’m fine,” she said, flustered. “Don’t rush.”

  But Newton was already busying himself in the kitchen.

  “How’s El?” Alex asked.

  “Panic-stricken. Things aren’t good with those two. Reuben’s in a bad space right now.”

  “Not surprising, but he’ll come round, he’s a good guy.”

  “I’m not so sure. He’s blaming her for Gil becoming involved in the search for the grimoire.”

  Avery was stunned. “Why? That doesn’t make sense. It was Reuben who pushed Gil to search for it.”

  “He’s looking to blame anyone now. Of course he’s blaming Faversham, but El got caught in it, too.”

  “Why not me? I’m the one who got the box in the first place.”

  “I think there’s a bit of anger in there for all of us,” Briar said sadly. “I can’t say I blame him.”

  Newton sat next to her and handed her a plate stacked with pizza, cheeses, and olives. “There you go.”

  “Thank you,” she said, and gave him a beaming smile. “So how are you involved in all this, Newton?”

  “Long story.”

  “I’ve got time.”

  Newton started to explain about his family history and Alex nudged Avery, whispering in her ear. “I’m thinking of leaving El and Reuben here tonight. Can I come back to yours?”

  “Of course,” she stuttered, feeling a rush of pleasure that he’d asked.

  “Cool,” he said, and leaned a little closer, the warmth of his skin against hers making her tingle. He pointed at the hidden spell in the back of Briar’s book. “Briar’s book is all about healing, of course, but there are some interesting earth spells, too. This hidden spell, the one we think may be the binding spell, seems to tie the spell to a certain spot.”

  “Does it? How?” Avery leaned closer, pushing her hair behind her ears.

  “This part here.” Alex pointed to a line. “The place within the centre of the pentagram, there shall the binding be strongest, rooted to the earth, anchored by the elements, for all of time as the spell desires.”

  “Within the pentagram? What pentagram?”

  “Well, that’s the big question, isn’t it?” he said, his gaze travelling down to her lips. “Do you think we can get away with leaving now?”

  She flushed and grinned. “I don’t think so.”

  “Go on. You know you want to.” He smiled mischievously.

  “You’re a very bad influence,” she whispered back, a thrill of anticipation running through her.

  “I know. Fun, though.” Alex looked up at Briar, interrupting her conversation with Newton. “Do you think Reuben will wake tonight?”

  “I hope not. I’m hoping a long, natural sleep will help him heal. Sorry Alex, you’ve lost your bed for the night.”

  “In that case, I’m taking Avery back home, and you two can leave when you’re ready. I’m going to let El sleep here, too.”

  Briar’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked between Alex and Avery, and then a smile spread across her face. “Fair enough. I’ll hang around for another hour or two, just in case there’s a problem, and then I’ll go home, too.”

  Newton looked speculatively at Alex and Avery, and then back to Briar. “I’ll wait with you, Briar, and then take you home. In fact, from now on, we should all keep an eye on each other.”

  “Er, okay,” Briar agreed, “thank you.”

  “That reminds me,” Alex said, rising to his feet. “Me and Reuben had been thinking about a design of some runes that can hide us from Faversham. The only thing is, it needs to be a tattoo for full protection. Interested?”

  Newton frowned. “For me as well?”

  “You’re part of the team now. You’re as much at risk as the rest of us.”

  “I’ll think on it.”

  “Me, too,” Briar said.

  “Good.” Alex pulled Avery to her feet. “Give me a couple of minutes, and I’m good to go.”

  7

  Alex and Avery were woken the next morning by a loud banging on the front door.

  Avery groaned and rolled over to look at the clock. “Crap, it’s barely seven! Who’s that?”

  “I’ll go,” Alex said, already rolling out of bed and pulling on his jeans and t-shirt.

  Avery thought she’d better follow him, although it was unlikely Faversham would just knock at her door. She hurriedly pulled her jeans and t-shirt on, too, ran her hands through her hair, and raced downstairs after Alex.

  She heard El’s voice before she’d got halfway down. “You have to stop him, Alex! He’ll get himself killed, and he won’t listen to me!”

  El was standing in the middle of Avery’s living room, tears streaming down her face. Her face was red and her eyes swollen.

  “What’s happened?” Avery asked, fear running through her.

  Alex was already reaching for his phone that was lying on the kitchen workbench.

  “Reuben’s gone to confront Faversham.”

  “He’s done what?” Avery said, horrified.

  El started crying again. “He woke up half an hour ago and has gone mad. He couldn’t remember what had happened for a second, and then when he did he just yelled, and said he was going to kill Faversham.” She gasped to get her breath, blinking back tears. “I tried to stop him, but he won’t listen. He barely looks at me! We have to stop him.”

  “He’s taken his car, I presume?”

  “Yeah. He grabbed the keys and just ran out.”

  Avery found her own keys, “Alex, let’s go.”

  Alex was on his phone. “It goes to voicemail.”

  “Keep trying, I’ll drive. Try and get Newton, too.”

  They raced to Avery’s car, and she pulled out onto the quiet streets. “I’ll follow the main road to Harecombe, that would be the quickest way.”

  She navigated the streets, trying to keep calm, while Alex called Briar. He sat next to her in the front seat, El sitting anxiously in the back. She had fallen quiet now, looking out of the windows, desperate to see a sign of Reuben. The weather was still foul, the wind and rain battering the car.

  “Hey, Briar,” Alex said into the phone. “Is Newton with you?” He raised his eyebrows at Avery. “Sorry, Briar, no need to yell. Have you got his number? I need to speak to him urgently. Reuben’s gone to attack Faversham.” He paused and listened. “We’re going after him now, on the road to Harecombe. Can you tell Newton? Great, see you later. Don’t worry.”

  “Did you upset her—about Newton?”

  Alex looked sheepish. “I think so. She said not to be so bloody presumptuous.”

  Avery laughed. “I needed that bit of levity right now.” She looked at El in her rear view mirror. “Are you okay, El?”

  Elspeth continued to look out of the window. “No. I’m worried sick.”

  “I’m sorry he’s mad at you. It’s not your fault. If it’s anyone’s, it’s mine.”

  “No, it’s not!” Alex said, annoyed. He turned to face Avery and El behind him. “It’s Faversham’s. He’s the dick here, not us. These are our books. It’s not our fault his ancestor, Octavia was such a bitch that she was locked up in some sort of witch’s purgatory with her bloody demon.”

  Now El looked surprised, her attention finally off Reuben. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Oh! You didn’t hear Newton’s news yesterday, did you? It’s a shocker.” He sighed and started to tell her.

  Avery half listened, racing down the lanes that led to Harecombe. Once the road opened up, she put her foot down, going as fast as her ancient van allowed. The road hugged the coast, twisting every so often and giving flashes of the sea and coves along the way. There was no way they’d catch him. Then she had another thought. “Hey guys, where am I goin
g in Harecombe? Where does Faversham live?”

  “That’s a great question,” Alex said. “El?”

  She looked dumbfounded. “No idea. I’m still trying to process witch purgatory.”

  “So I’m racing down this road to where?” Avery asked, increasingly frustrated.

  “There!” El yelled, pointing out the window towards a car park above the beach where Reuben’s car was parked.

  Avery slammed the brakes on, and turned onto the road to the cove. “What’s he doing there?”

  “His surfboard’s missing.” El said, relief creeping into her voice. “Maybe he’s changed his mind.”

  “Maybe he’s realised that like us, he has no idea where he’s going,” Alex said.

  “Maybe he’s got a death wish,” Avery put in. “Surely the weather’s too bad to surf. How’s he got his wet suit?”

  “He always has one in the car,” El said.

  They pulled up next to his car, right at the edge of the otherwise deserted car park, and looked over to the cove below. The path down to the beach travelled through sand dunes until it hit the beach. The tide was in, smashing against the beach and the rocks either side of the cove. Avery could see Reuben on his board, trying to make his way out.

  “Shit. He’s really trying to surf now?” Alex was incredulous. “He’ll be crushed.”

  “How the hell do we stop him?” Avery asked, knowing no one could answer.

  El jumped out of the car and raced down the path, drenched in seconds. They heard her voice, the words lost on the wind.

  “Oh, crap. What now?”

  Alex sighed and looked at her. “I suppose we need to go after them.”

  “And do what? There must be a spell we can use.” Neither was dressed for the weather, and Alex looked as rumpled as she felt. “I don’t think I’m even really awake yet.”

  “This was not how I imagined this morning would start.”

  “Alex, get your mind off sex. Our friends are in crisis.”

  “A crisis that will not be solved by us getting soaked on the beach. We’re going back to bed after this.”

  “Seriously. Stop it. What is wrong with you?” Avery looked at him in amazement. “Our friend is possibly trying to kill himself!”