Cadenbury Town Does Halloween (Cadenbury Town #7)

Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

W e’re sat in the kitchen, drinks in front of us, and cake on the table. It’s late, very late. Ebby, Sly and the boys are sat around the table with us, as is Molly, Elliot and Madam Cleo. I think the only ones asleep are Nora, Sion and Connie.

“What happened?” Kean asks us.

“I honestly don’t know,” I say. “I mean we were walking around and having fun when we seemed to get back to the first mirror.”

“But we didn’t see the entrance,” Ebby carries on. “So, we started walking around it again, but the mirrors kept moving, sometimes trapping us other times they became a maze.”

“Then the mirrors started showing disturbing images of us,” Sly takes up the tale. “Then we heard what sounded like glass shattering and the killer clown showed up.”

“Something sang a song saying we were trapped in a mirror. So, the witches sent their magic out shattering everything around us, and we appeared outside the attraction,” Adhan says.

“When did you notice something was wrong?” I ask.

“When we were changing locations, we couldn’t find any of you,” Titus says.

“The boys felt something was wrong and tried phoning Sly and Ebby. When they didn’t get an answer, we came to the fair to look for them,” John adds.

“We knew you were alive, but couldn’t find you,” Xander says. His hand is still resting on Ebby’s arm.

“I remembered you saying you would start in the Hall of Mirrors, so we came to look for you,” Nix says.

“Picture the scene, my friends,” Jude starts, grinning my way. “Our intrepid explorers had gone off to visit the fabled Hall of Mirrors.”

“Through oceans and rivers we travelled, across mountains and cliffs,” Kean said, picking up the ballad.

Elliot lets out a loud laugh. “A ballad, I love it.”

I grin at him but didn’t interrupt the epic ballad telling.

“Until we finally reach the gates of the Hall of Mirrors,” Ben adds.

“But alas no entrance was to be found. So, we the daring witchlings, being the sensible witchlings we are.”

There is more than one snort when Sal says this.

Sal ignores them and carries on. “Gently send our magic out, looking for a way in, to rescue our trapped brethren.”

“But alas no entrance was to be found,” Justice says.

“I was surprised you didn’t just blast your way in,” Elliot says.

“We’ve learnt the hard way never to blast anything,” Titus tells him.

“Except we blasted our way out of the mirror,” Sly points out.

“Yeah, but we didn’t have a choice about that really,” I reply. “I was pretty sure nothing more would happen if we did.”

“None of us realised we were trapped in a mirror until that song was sung,” Adhan says.

“Even now I have no idea how we ended up in the mirror,” Sly said.

“I didn’t feel a change in the air or anything, and I didn’t touch anything,” I tell them.

“Only because I stopped you, sweetheart,” Adhan says.

I lean into his side. “What happened when you couldn’t get in?” I ask.

“We tried surrounding the attraction with our magic to undo the dark magic. It was cleverly woven round and took a good few hours to get it undone,” Justice tells us. “We still couldn’t physically get in, but sent what magic we could inside looking for you all.”

“But we couldn’t find you,” Nix shakes his head. “We thought you might have been sent to another plane. I can’t believe we didn’t think about you being trapped in a mirror.”

“But then Enoch mentioned watching something, where someone was pulled through one.” John says, smiling at him.

“So, we latched onto that thought, grabbed some of the town witches that were around and used a calling spell, hoping that would bring you back, and it did.” Molly says cackling. “Looks like we timed the calling spell with you all shattering the mirror.”

“Thank goodness,” Adhan says. “Mind you the teenagers that were trapped with us, loved it.”

“I think we’re all loving it,” Ben says.

“But we didn’t get killer clowns. We got a big fat nothing,” Temp grumps out.

“We still can’t tell which line the dark magic is from, it feels like it might be a combination of magics, but I don’t know why I think that,” Nix says.

“If that’s what you think Nix, we’ll work on that assumption,” Titus says.

“I still don’t understand how the dark magic is getting through the wards,” Adhan says. He looks at Molly and Titus. “Do the wards need to be redone?”

Molly looks at Titus for a moment.

“It wouldn’t hurt,” Titus says.

“We can redo them, the Dark One can help us,” Molly says, looking at Sly.

“I’m happy to help, but will the town witches be okay with me helping?” Sly asks.

“They will. Honestly, as long as the town is safe none of them will care,” I tell him. “They didn’t mind when Sal helped.”

“We could all join together and protect the town. So, we’ll have white, grey and black.” Justice says.

“We can help as well if you want,” Cleo offers.

“We’ll accept all the help we can get and hopefully find out why the wards aren’t working,” Adhan says.

“We’ll get some sleep and look at the town protection tomorrow. We’re having a BBQ tomorrow, you’re welcome to join us, Elliot, and Cleo,” I tell them.

“I’ll be busy tomorrow, but Elliot can come,” Cleo says.

Elliot laughs. “I’ll be here, message me when you’re ready.”

Adhan nods. “Will do, thanks Elliot.”

Elliot looks at Cleo for a moment, the smile falling off his face. Cleo nods and Elliot looks back at Adhan.

“What is it?’ Adhan asks.

“I’m a true witch, not from an original line, but the true witch from our family line,” Elliot tells us.

“That’s how you could wipe the minds and the videos of anyone who saw Ben shifting,” Temp says.

“It is. As you know, I travel around the country all the time, but if I’m not around and you need my help, just phone me and I’ll get here as quickly as I can.”

“Thanks, Elliot,” Adhan says, smiling at him.

“And now that’s out of the way we’ll be off,” Cleo says standing up.

Elliot and Molly follow and after a round of ‘good nights’ they leave.

“Ebby, Sly, do you guys want to stay here for the rest of the night?” Emily asks.

“Are you sure?” Ebby asks.

“Completely. Enoch looks like he’s asleep already,” Adhan says.

It’s then I notice that Enoch is slumped against Sly fast asleep.

“We will, thank you,” Sly says.