Cadenbury Town Does Halloween (Cadenbury Town #7)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

A s with yesterday people keep popping in to talk about vampires, zombies, rock apples and the fact that someone caught Shamus.

Those who saw Adhan carry me out of the haunted walk and then the farm are concerned about me and enquire after my health. Have I ever said how much I love this town?

It’s just coming up to Justice and Sal’s break time when the door opens and they both walk in laughing.

Gone is the grumpy doctor of old, Justice is always smiling now, and it looks good on him.

“Hey brothers,” I say.

“Hey. I’ve just come from seeing Sion,” Justice says, as he walks over to me, the smile falling off his face.

“Is it bad?” Sal asks.

“This migraine attack is. I’ve contacted his neurologist to see what he thinks. I left Cassie with some ultra strong pain killers to give him if needed, plus a list of instructions for what to do to help Sion.”

“As if he’s not going through enough with his head already,” I say. “I wish there was something we could do.”

“I bumped into Molly after I saw him. She said she would look through Constance’s medicine journal to see what she can find. Elaine is going to see him as well.”

“Why do you think Cassie and Sion haven’t got together yet?” Sal asks.

“I don’t know. I might have a catch-up with one or other of them later and find out,” I say.

“On that note, we’re off for coffee but no cake,” Justice says.

“I seriously don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much cake,” Sal says.

“I don’t think any of us have. Cal is trying to convince Clarence to have some healthy snacks,” I tell them.

“That would be good. I’m limiting myself to one slice a week now,” Justice adds.

“You best be going for your break or you’ll run out of time,” I remind him.

“We will. Catch you later,” they both say, heading into the tearoom, just as a customer comes to the till.

I’ve just finished serving them when the door opens and Sly, Ebby and the boys walk in.

Enoch rushes over to me. “Are you okay? Sly said you were bitten by a zombie. I didn’t even know zombies were real. My mind is blown right now.”

His fear of me is well and truly gone thank goodness.

“A zombie did chomp on me, but Sly used his magic to help me, then created a gross tea for me to drink,” I tell him.

“All healing teas are disgusting,” Ebby says.

“Have a chat with Sal, he’s figured out a way to make them taste nice and still keep all the healing properties.”

“Really? Thank goodness, I need to find him and talk to him,” Xander says. “The teas these two make, make me want to heave.”

“Sal and Justice are in the tearoom,” I tell them.

“How are you feeling today? Any after-effects?” Sly asks.

I shake my head. “Nope, whatever you did fixed me right up. Thanks. Oh, before I forget, the witchlings and I are conjuring up a cauldron and cackling around it tonight, making something - probably a soup if you’d like to join us. We’re dressing up as Halloween witches, black robes, pointy hats, probably brooms.”

The boys turn and look at Ebby and Sly grinning. “Can we? That will be so much fun,” Enoch says.

“Why not? Sly and I will be with you the whole time,” Ebby says.

Enoch waves his hand. “Ernest and the others will keep us safe, if there’s something you’d rather be doing.”

Both Ebby and Sly look shocked for a moment.

“We really will keep them safe,” I assure them.

“I’ve never cackled round a cauldron before. I might join in, it sounds fun,” Sly says.

“Shoot me your mobile numbers and I’ll update you on times and things,” I say, reaching for my phone, when a customer walks up, smiling.

“We’ll come back and see you when we’ve finished in the tea shop,” Ebby says, ushering his family away.

“I can’t wait to see you all around the cauldron tonight,” a town resident, Terry says.

“It should be fun.”

“Wish I’d seen the scarecrows, headless horseman, vampires and zombies though.”

I laugh. “Well, I’ll see what I can do for you.”

Terry laughs as I ring up his purchase. “Thanks. Also, when you see your man, tell him how much everyone is enjoying the Haunted Farm,” he pays for his goods and I bag them up.

“Will do, thanks Terry, enjoy your books,” I say handing the bag over.

“I will indeed,” and with a final smile, Terry leaves the shop, passing Molly outside and stopping to chat.

A few minutes later Molly walks in, Miles at her side.

“Hey Cuz,” I say cheerfully, walking around the counter. “Hey Miles,” I bend down to stroke him. He rubs against my hand, then sits down.

“Any zombie tendencies young’un?” she asks cackling.

“Nope, I’m still me,” I assure her, standing up.

“Good,” she replies, nodding.

I look at Molly, really look at her and she doesn’t look right. “Are you okay Mollyanne, you’re looking a little tired?” I ask her in concern, touching her arm.

“Aye, young’un. I keep forgetting I’m not as young as I used to be.”

“You know we witchlings can help if things get too much, right?” I say.

“I know young’un, but I’ve not had this much fun in years. I did think about giving up last year. I felt I had exceeded my expiry date, but something made me hold on. Then you came to town young’un, and the other witchlings turned up and made me remember how much I still have to offer. Truthfully, I’ve not had this much fun with magic for years.”

“I’m glad we all came now,” I say truthfully. I mean could you imagine Cadenbury without Molly? I internally shudder at the thought. “Ebby and the others are in the tearoom,” I tell her.

“Then I shall go and see them. Come, Miles,” she says, cackling and walking in the direction of the tearoom.

I must remember to sit down and have a good chat with her, about her life and past. I bet she has some interesting stories to tell. All I really know about her past is that she used to be a teacher and taught Lizzie Compton, Titus and Cassie’s mother and I really need to hear more of that story. Tie and Cassie probably do as well.

Pa arrives at lunchtime, walking in with Elaine and Temp, who leave a few minutes later with Ebby and Enoch to go and look at the sick animals healing in Elaine’s garden.

Sly and Xander leave as well, promising to be at the haunted house cauldron later that evening.

Once they leave Pa looks at me. “You still you?”

I nod. “Yep, I literally have no desire to eat brains or chomp on anyone,” I inform him.

“Good, I would have hated having to chain you up in a shed.”

“Nope, it’s all good, no Shaun of the Dead happening here.”

“I hear you’re all cackling around a cauldron tonight. That should be fun to see.”

“You can join us if you want, plus Ma,” I say; Ma would love that. I grab my phone and text her.

“I’ll watch for a bit, and then take a walk around the funfair I think, until your Ma is finished.”

“Have I ever thanked you and Ma for moving here and for you accepting the job working here?”

Pa smiles at me. “Best decision your Ma and I ever made. Mind you, we should be thanking you for taking the job here. If not for you we wouldn’t be here, in this lovely crazy town filled with more family than we can shake a stick at or living in our perfect cottage. I’m off to get coffee and cake. Be back in a bit.”

I watch as Pa walks in the direction of the tearoom. It’s not long before I hear him laughing. I smile to myself, Pa is always smiling nowadays and I get to work with him pretty much every day and Ma is loving working in Shattered Glass.

The rest of the day passes quickly, with people coming in and waving on their way to meetings. For once there aren’t any evening meetings, so we can close the shop at a sensible time and head home.

I find I’m the last one home, even Sly, Ebby and the boys are here.

I smile at Enoch. “How were the animals?”

Enoch smiles at me. “They were amazing, I’ve never seen a badger up close before. The poor thing had a broken leg, I touched his leg and it fixed, can you believe that? I didn’t even think about healing it but it happened anyway, and we fixed a bird’s wing. Elaine said I can help the animals whenever I want too. How nice was that? Temp introduced me to all the animals that were there as well.”

As he’s talking, he waves his arms around and it’s only once he’s finished talking that I notice silence has descended.

“Don’t mind my brother, he’s a chatterbox,” Xander says.

“Nothing wrong with that,” Molly says walking into the kitchen.

“Nope there isn’t,” Emily agrees.

“I’m glad you had fun,” I say to him. I look at Ebby. “Did you have fun as well?”

Ebby laughs. “I did. It was good watching Enoch look after the animals and Elaine was lovely.”

“We need to figure out what your talent is Xander,” I say to him.

“I don’t think I’ve got one,” he replies with a shrug.

“Everyone has one,” Molly tells him.

“What’s your talent, Ernest?” Enoch asks me.

“Chaos and mayhem,” Adhan replies quickly with a laugh.

I glare at him. “Really? That’s what you’re going with?”

“I bet if we take a vote everyone will agree young’un,” Molly cackles out.

“You too Cuz, really?” I dramatically flop onto the nearest chair. “So mean.”

“But also true,” Titus adds, grinning.

I shake my head at them and then laugh. I look at Xander. “My talent is that because I’m a true witch I can do anything.”

“That’s not really a talent young’un. That’s more like throwing caution to the wind and oh I don’t know, triggering any and all traps set out in the Little Welling caves,” Molly says, cackling.

I huff as the others laugh.

“What were the traps?” Ebby asks.

“A turn around trap, trap doors, spiders, stuff like that,” I reply, waving my hand dismissively.

“And let’s not forget the rats, Ernest,” Cam pointed out.

“It was one time,” I gripe. I mean seriously are they going to keep bringing this up?

“I’m glad I missed that,” Ebby said.

“Alright boys, that’s enough picking on Ernest. Dinner’s ready. Sly, Ebby you and your brothers have a seat. The rest of you boys set the table and bring the food over,” Emily says.

And quick as anything the table is laid, and food is being handed around.

When there was a lull in table conversation, I see Ebby look at Sly and nod.

“Adhan, we’d like to formally put an offer in on the house,” Sly says.

“Really? We’re staying?” Enoch asks happily, looking at them.

“For real?” Xander asks, with what sounds like hope in his voice.

“For real,” Ebby answers.

“Excellent. We can sort everything out tomorrow,” Adhan replies, smiling at them.

“The four of you will be very happy there,” Molly tells them.

Sly looks at Adhan. “Are you sure it’s okay with me being here, I’m a dark witch, not white or grey.”

Adhan nods. “I’m sure.”

“Oh,” Sal says. “You can both join our magical playtime. It’s usually me, Justice and Callum against this lot and the town witches.”

“Playtime?” Jude queries, trying not to smile.

“What Sal meant was our totally serious, non-playtime defence against dark magic lessons. Totally a non-playing event,” I say. “It’s taken very seriously.”

I hear a few snorts of laughter from around the table.

“Ernest is right, our last lesson was stepping stones over a lava flow while battling a lava dragon. Because you never know what dark witches can do,” Temp tells them.

“And,” Sal said to Sly, “You can teach us protection from wind.”

Sly nods. “I can do that.”

“The town witches decided they wanted defence against dark magic lessons, because of the problems the dark witches were causing,” Sal tells them.

“Then there were issues with my biologicals, who were casting spells on injured towns folk, so we protected the whole town whether paranormal or not with the protection rune. We should give it to you four as well,” Justice says.

“We’ve already used it,” Ebby replies. “Molly told us about it when she gave us the protection necklaces.”

“I did indeed,” Molly cackles out.

“It was weird that you just happened to have four protection necklaces on you at the right time,” Xander said, looking at her.

“Xander, Molly’s like a thousand years old, she knows everything,” Alfred tells them grinning.

“Cheeky pup,” Molly says, cackling again. “I’ve not reached a thousand yet, when I do, we can have a party.”

“And Ebby can supply the chocolates,” Alfred says happily.

Ebby laughs. “I can do that.”

“Now then witchlings. I have vegetables in sacks ready for tonight, they are by the front door. You can make a soup as you’re cackling around the cauldron tonight. Bowl and bamboo forks are in carrier bags next to them. You’ll need to conjure the cauldron and maybe a table. You can use magic for anything else,” Molly tells us.

“I know the townsfolk are looking forward to seeing us standing around a cauldron making soup and cackling,” I tell everyone.

“You know what? I should stay and help Cas look after Sion,” Temp suddenly says.

“I looked in on them when I got home. Sion was awake, but still can’t lift his head up,” Justice says.

“And I offered to take food up for them when we were finished,” Titus adds.

“I have Cassie’s food keeping hot in the oven. I wasn’t sure what to make Sion,” Emily tells them.

“Sion won’t want anything heavy, probably just toast and jam,” Justice says.

“I’m sure Ma had a cousin or something that used to get migraines. They had to cut out a lot of things, like cheese, chocolate, coffee and oranges, but anything could set them off. Strong smells, bright light, loud noise. They suffered a lot with them and were laid up for ages at a time.” I tell them.

“They are nasty things. Some people think they are just bad headaches, but they are so much more, and there is no real cure for them, just things that can reduce the severity of them, and pain injections. I’m still waiting on Sion’s neurologist to get back to me,” Justice says.

“Do you know what caused Sion’s?’ Ebby asked.

“I hadn’t been here long, and a line of Cartwright witches sent several spells to us here in Cadenbury. One of them at a meeting of some of the town witches. It sounded like buzzing inside our heads. Most witches fell, except for me, Titus, Molly and Sion. Sion tried so hard to counteract the spell that something burst in his brain, something that magic can’t fix. He was in a coma and when he woke up, he found he’d lost some of his memories and now this,” I explain.

“Could there be something I can do? Maybe I can counteract the dark magic,” Sly offers.

“Thank you for the offer Dark One, but dark magic didn’t do this. That line of Cartwright’s were descended from Constance Cartwright, young’un and my great, great, whatever. They were being manipulated by Tim Tanner, Tink’s brother, also descended from light witches.”

“So, there are more bad light witches out there?” Enoch asks, shifting closer to Sly, who wraps his arm around his shoulder. Ebby takes Xander’s hand.

“We stopped them cheeky chops. Plus, you have the protection necklace and the rune and if your brothers agree, you and Xander can join Nora in her magic lessons, so you’ll know how to protect yourselves if your brothers aren’t around,” Molly tells them.

“You should ask Adhan to teach you his super scary stare. He’s teaching it to me and that look can make people either cry or wet themselves, sometimes both,” Nora tells them, before looking at Adhan and grinning.

Nora asked Adhan to teach her his secret stare so she wouldn’t get into trouble again for punching a bully. Nora isn’t a violent child, but a boy was picking on her friend and said Nora’s parents died because of her and he called her brother by a homophobic name, so she punched him and got into trouble. She is getting really good at the stare already.

“I will teach you both if you want,” Adhan agrees. “We’ll all protect you.”

“Thank you. The boys will probably take you up on both offers,” Ebby says looking at Xander and Enoch, who both nodded.

“That would be amazing, thank you,” Xander says.

“Good. Now then witchlings, it’s time to go to the haunted farm,” Molly says.

“Are you joining us, Molly?” Temps asks her.

“I might for a little bit, then I think I’ll stroll through the forest for a while, with a basket of red apples,” she says cackling.

I’m not the only one who laughs at that. “That should be fun,”

“I’ll take Cas and Sion’s food up and then we’ll join you,” Titus said.

“And we’ll clear the table,” Ben says, standing up and starting to collect the dishes up.

Everyone jumps up to help while Titus makes some toast and gets Cassie’s dinner ready, adding cutlery and drinks to the tray, covering both plates, before walking out of the room.