by Adele Abbott
Every house I passed seemed to be unique unlike the identikit houses I was used to seeing in Washbridge. I was fascinated by the different shapes, sizes and colours of the properties that bordered the road. Every time I spotted someone at a window, they greeted me with a smile and a wave. Back home, I'd have been given a dirty look or worse.
When I finally made it to the top of the hill, the view took my breath away. Until then, I'd thought of Candlefield as a village, but it was the size of a large city which stretched as far as the eye could see. How could somewhere like this exist, and yet be invisible to humans?
No wonder Aunt Lucy had been amused when I'd said it wouldn't take long to look around the place. It would have taken me at least a week. It was like no other city I'd ever seen. There were no skyscrapers; the tallest building I could see was no more than three stories high. From my vantage point, I could see several parks and two lakes; one much larger than the other. To my right, was what appeared to be a large open-air market. To my left, in the distance, was some kind of amusement park.
I didn't know where to begin. It would probably have been better to wait until Aunt Lucy could show me around, but I'd come this far, and I wasn't about to turn back. I'd need to keep a check on the time though to make sure I wasn't late getting back.
I've always loved markets, so I made my way there. The normal laws of time and distance didn't seem to apply in Candlefield. From the top of the hill, the market had looked to be at least a fifteen minute walk away, but within no more than a minute I was there.
It felt as though the whole population of Candlefield was at the market. The space between the rows of stalls was narrow, and at times I felt as though I was being carried along by the crowd. Were all these people sups? I supposed they must be because humans couldn't visit Candlefield. I found myself staring at people. Was he a werewolf? Was she a witch or perhaps a vampire? Should I be able to tell? Did they know I was a witch? They all looked—err—human, I guess. If I'd met any of them on the street in Washbridge, I wouldn't have given them a second glance.
It was only when I came upon a stall selling soft drinks that I realised how thirsty I was. There were dozens of flavours, none of which I'd ever heard of: zutaberry, quilberry and many others. The woman behind the counter must have noticed my puzzled expression because she called to me.
“Can I help you?”
I waved my credit card at her. “I don't imagine you take these?” I was so used to using plastic that I carried very little cash.
She smiled. “You won't be able to use that anywhere in Candlefield.”
“Oh. Right. How much are the drinks?” I pulled out a handful of coins from my pocket.
“Don't worry about it. Your Aunt Lucy said to put it on her account.”
“Really? How did she know I'd come to your stall?”
“There isn't much your Aunt Lucy doesn't know. What flavour would you like?”
I ran my gaze over row after row of bottles. “What would you recommend?”
“Zutaberry is my favourite. Would you like to try it?”
I nodded, even though I was a little unsure about the dark green colour. I needn't have worried. It was absolutely delicious and just what I needed to quench my thirst. Next, I bought a bag of mixed fudge from the stall opposite. If I did move to Candlefield, I'd be in danger of putting on some serious weight.
There were lots of fascinating stalls. It was a good thing that they didn’t take plastic or I'd have done some real damage to my credit card bill. As soon as I saw the silk scarf, I knew Kathy would have loved it. Peter said she had a silk scarf addiction, and he was probably right. In the end though, I didn't buy it. It would have been unfair to take advantage of Aunt Lucy's generosity, and besides I wasn't sure if I'd be able to take goods out of Candlefield. I made a mental note to ask Aunt Lucy how that worked.
The majority of the stalls were similar to those that you would find in the human world: food, clothes, toys etc. However, there were others that most definitely would not have been found outside of Candlefield. One of the most popular ones was selling books, but not just any old books—spell books. I studied the crowd of people who were gathered around the stall.
“See anything you like, Jill?” the woman behind the stall said.
I couldn't decide if I found it comforting or unnerving that everyone seemed to know my name.
“No, thanks. I'm okay.”
“Are you sure? Aunt Lucy said you could put it on her account.”
“Thanks, but I don't think I'm ready for another book just yet.”
“No problem. Maybe when you move up a level. We're here three times a week if you need anything.”
I'd lost track of time. It was only when I noticed the lights on the stalls had come on that I realised it was starting to go dark. I checked my watch. Twenty to six. Where had the time gone? How would it look if I was late for dinner? My new family would not be impressed. The square was still busy, so it took a couple of minutes just to make my way to the edge of the market. If I traced my way around the edge of the square, I should eventually find the road I came in on.
After ten minutes, I still hadn't seen any buildings I recognised. I was going to be late for sure. As I considered which way I should try next, I spotted them in the distance. Two hooded figures were making their way towards me. Followers! I had to get out of there. I could worry about finding Aunt Lucy's house later. I took the first street I came to, and ran as fast as I could. A hundred yards along the street, I spotted a recessed doorway to my right. If the Followers saw the street was deserted, hopefully they'd carry on their search of the square. My heart was pounding as I leaned with my back against the door. In the distance I could hear the sounds of the market. I waited, hardly daring to breathe. I'd give it five minutes—long enough for them to pass by the bottom of the street, and then I'd make a run for it.
My heart sank as I heard footsteps. They were only faint, as if they were walking on tip-toe. I tried the door, but it was locked. I was trapped.
The footsteps were much closer now. It would only be a matter of seconds before they found me. Hold on! How stupid was I? I didn't have to battle it out with them—I could use the 'invisible' spell. Why hadn't I thought of that back in the square? I'd have to hurry though.
“Holy cupcakes!” a female voice screamed.
“Crumbs!” another female voice yelled.
“What the?” I shouted.
I'm not sure who jumped the most. Me or the two young women who were now standing in front of me.
“Cousin Jill?” the one on the left said. “We've been looking for you everywhere. I'm Pearl.”
“And I'm Amber.”
They removed their hoods to reveal striking ginger hair. At first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, and that I was seeing double, but then I realised they were identical twins. Under their short, grey cloaks, they wore matching blue polka dot dresses, and as far as I could tell, the only way to tell them apart was by the small beauty spot on Amber's left cheek.
I sighed with relief. “I thought you were Followers.”
“Us?” Amber giggled.
“Followers?” Pearl giggled too.
“It was the hoods,” I said, feeling more than a little foolish. “I’m sorry you had to come looking for me. I got lost.”
“Mum thought you probably had. That’s why she sent us to find you.”
“I hope she isn't angry.”
“Don't worry,” Pearl said. “I think she was half-expecting you to get lost. Candlefield is a big place.”
“So I'm beginning to realise.”
“Come on,” Amber said, turning back down the alley. “We'd better get going.”
I walked alongside the twins. They couldn't have been much taller than five two, but their bee-hive hairstyles added another six inches to their height. How could I have mistaken them for Followers? I was cracking up.
“I like your hair,” I said.
“Thank you,” they
replied in unison.
“We had it done especially for the party.” Pearl beamed.
“Party?”
“Well, it's not exactly a party, but it feels like one. It's not every day we get to meet our long-lost cousin.”
“Have you always known about me then?”
“Of course. Your mum talked about you all the time. She was always showing us photos of you.”
“She had photos of me?”
“Hundreds. She spent as much time following you around as she spent in Candlefield.”
I felt a lump in my throat, and I had to fight back the tears. All those years I thought I'd been abandoned, but my mother had been with me all of the time.
Chapter 18
“So you're Jill,” Grandma said. “Well it's about time we got to meet you, young lady.”
There's no kind way to say this, so I'll just put it out there. Grandma looked every bit like the wicked witches I'd seen in fairy tales. All she needed was the pointed hat, and she could have graced any Halloween party.
“Pleased to meet you,” I said while trying not to stare at the large wart on the end of her nose.
“You have a lot of catching up to do,” she said. “You've wasted way too long living among those humans.”
“Mother!” Aunt Lucy gave Grandma a withering look. “That's enough. It's not Jill's fault that she didn't know she was a witch. You know that.”
“A witch always knows she's a witch,” Grandma insisted. “Have you started to practise your spells?”
“I have, but I still have a lot to learn.”
“If you need any help, you can always call on me.”
“Thanks.” Never going to happen. I'd never liked scary movies. The prospect of being alone with Grandma was way more frightening.
“Go and sit down, everyone.” Aunt Lucy ushered us through to the dining room. “Dinner is almost ready.”
Grandma sat at the head of the table. The twins sat together on one side, and I sat opposite them. Aunt Lucy's place was set at the other end of the table.
“What's it like being a detective?” Amber asked.
“Have you shot anyone?” Pearl joined in.
“It's not as exciting as you might think. And no, I haven't shot anyone.”
“What was your most exciting case?”
“Girls!” Grandma gave them a disapproving look. “That's enough 'human' talk at the dining table. Jill is a witch now, so she'll be giving up all of that silly detective stuff.”
“Sorry?” I wasn't sure I'd heard her correctly.
“I said that you'll be giving up all that detective nonsense when you move to Candlefield.”
This was news to me. “Just a minute—”
“Dinner's ready,” Aunt Lucy interrupted. When she caught my eye, she subtly shook her head, which I took to mean that I shouldn't engage with Grandma. I didn't want to spoil my first ever meal with my new family, so I let it go, but there was no way I'd be giving up my job or moving to Candlefield.
Aunt Lucy had made a pie. It was probably the largest pie I'd ever seen, and certainly the most delicious. It came with all the trimmings. My plate was overflowing, and by the time the meal was over, I was stuffed.
“Thank you. That was delicious,” I said. “What was it?”
The twins laughed. “You'll never find out. It's Mum's secret recipe. Even we don't know.”
I thought maybe they were joking until Aunt Lucy said, “If I told you, I'd have to kill you.”
“Well, whatever it was, it was delicious. Thank you for inviting me.”
“The first of many meals together, I hope.” Aunt Lucy treated me to one of her huge smiles.
Despite their objections, I insisted that I help the twins with the washing up. Grandma poked her head around the kitchen door to say goodnight. I wasn't sorry to see her go. I'd rather go head-to-head with a serial killer than with Grandma.
The twins must have seen my expression because Amber said, “Don't worry. She scares us too.”
“She has a heart of gold though,” Pearl said.
“Really?”
“No.”
“Does she live close by?”
“Couldn't be any closer. Right next door.”
“What about you two? Do you still live with Aunt Lucy?”
The twins looked horrified. “With Mum? No chance. We moved out as soon as we were old enough. We live above the shop.”
“Aunt Lucy mentioned that you have a cake shop.”
“Cuppy C.”
“Sorry?”
“That's the name of our shop.” Amber beamed with obvious pride. “'Cuppy C' as in Cuppy Cake. It’s a tea room too.”
“Nice name.”
“You have to come and try our cakes.”
“Not tonight. I'm ready to burst.”
“Tomorrow then. We open at ten.”
“I'll be there.”
The atmosphere was much more relaxed after Grandma had left. Aunt Lucy, the twins and I moved into the living room. The twins were keen to pick my brain about life among the humans.
“Have you ever been out of Candlefield?” I asked.
“No, but we want to,” Amber said.
“Maybe we could come and visit you?” Pearl looked at me with hopeful eyes.
“Girls! What did I tell you?” Aunt Lucy gave the twins a look.
“But Mum. Now we have a cousin in the human world—”
“Amber!” Aunt Lucy scolded. “Jill has enough on her plate without having to put up with you two.”
“You wouldn’t mind, Jill, would you?” Amber pressed.
“I suppose it would be okay,” I said.
I saw Aunt Lucy roll her eyes. Had I said the wrong thing?
“Thank you!” Amber hurried across the room, followed by Pearl. The two of them hugged me. “Thank you so much.”
“When?” Pearl said. “When can we come?”
“I—err—I don't know. I'll—”
“Pearl, stop pressurising her,” Aunt Lucy intervened much to my relief.
What had I let myself in for?
At eleven o'clock the twins said their goodnights. I promised to call in their shop the next morning.
“Thank you for today,” I said, once Aunt Lucy and I were alone.
“It was my pleasure. Now, let me show you to your room.”
The bedroom had obviously once been the twins' room. I got the distinct impression that nothing had been changed since the day they'd moved out. One wall was covered with pictures of pop stars while on the opposite wall were pictures of movie stars. One of the twins was obviously a movie buff—maybe I should introduce her to Mr Ivers. Nah, even I couldn’t be that cruel.
I woke up early the next morning. On my way back from the shower, I heard excited voices coming from downstairs. It was Aunt Lucy and the twins. I hadn't expected to see them until I visited their shop later. Once I was dressed, I made my way downstairs to find the three of them at the kitchen table.
“Morning,” I said.
“Morning.” Came back the chorus.
“Sleep well?” Aunt Lucy walked over to the fridge.
“Like a log.”
“Would you like breakfast?”
“Just cereal please.”
“Tea?”
“Do you have coffee?”
“Of course.”
I took a seat at the table. “I wasn't expecting to see you two until later.”
The twins looked at one another and giggled.
“What?”
They giggled some more. It was a little unnerving.
“There you go.” Aunt Lucy put a bowl of cereal on the table in front of me.
While I was eating, the twins kept exchanging whispers, and giggling. Something was obviously afoot, but they remained tight-lipped.
When I'd finished, Aunt Lucy took my hand. “Come through to the living room. We have a surprise for you.”
“Oh?” I'd never liked surprises. Kathy once threw a surprise
birthday party for me, and I'd hated every moment of it.
“Sit there.” Aunt Lucy ushered me into the armchair. “I'll just be a minute.”
The twins were giggling again.
“What is it?” I asked, but they giggled all the more. I wasn't going to get any sense out of them.
I heard what sounded like a small stampede. What on earth was going on? The next thing I knew, something big and furry came flying through the door, across the room, and launched itself at me. It knocked me back in the chair, and before I could speak, began to lick my face.
“Get down, Barry,” Aunt Lucy shouted. “Get down.”
After she'd managed to pull the dog off me, I sat back up in the chair.
“This is Barry.” Aunt Lucy still had a firm grip on his collar.
“I'm Barry,” Barry said. I still couldn't get used to the idea of talking animals.
“Nice to meet you, Barry.” I began to stroke the dog.
“I'm Barry,” he repeated, his tail wagging frantically.
“I'm going to let you go,” Aunt Lucy said. “But no jumping on Jill. Okay?”
“Okay.”
I wasn't convinced, so braced myself for another assault, but Barry was true to his word, and instead rested his head on my knee.
“Do you like him?” Amber asked.
“He's lovely. What is he?”
“I'm right here,” Barry said.
“Sorry. I keep forgetting that you can talk. So, what are you?”
“I'm a dog.”
“Right. Yeah, of course. Stupid question.”
“He's a Labradoodle,” Pearl said.
“He's beautiful. Who does he belong to?”
“He's yours.” Aunt Lucy patted the dog's back.
“Mine? I can't—”
“I'm yours.” Barry licked my hand.
I looked at Amber, then Pearl, and finally at Aunt Lucy. They were all smiles. What was I supposed to do? An image flashed across my mind of Winky launching an attack on poor, sweet Barry. “I'm not allowed to have animals in my flat.”
