A Witch Like No Other (13 page)
Read A Witch Like No Other Online
Authors: Makala Thomas
Tags: #love story, #romance novel, #sorceror, #fantasy novel, #fantasy about magic, #fantasy about a witch, #romance 2014, #a witch like no other, #makala thomas
“
It’
s fine,” he said
reassuringly. “It makes a nice change from the mentor composure,
anyway. I didn
’
t know you were hurting inside, Miriam.”
“
I’
m not,” she lied. “I…
fine, I
’
m a teeny bit jealous of Dreamer, because she has Pandora-
and she
will
keep her away from me, Ted. I know
it.”
“
But
why?”
“
Maybe she
thinks she’
ll lose her, I
don
’
t
know.”
“
I’
m coming to your office
today, Miriam. I really do need to talk.”
“
Never mind the
office,” she said, knowing the clinic was ripe with gossip. They
knew Dreamer was back now. If they saw Ted visiting and entering
her office without Pandora, rumours would spread.
“
Where,
then?”
“
The café in
town?” suggested Miriam. “We can go there.”
“
Later on
today?”
was twenty past five.
“
In the
afternoon. I need to catch up on my sleep.”
“
Ok.
Thanks.”
“
Anytime.”
Would Ted tell Dreamer what she said? Miriam thought as she
laid down. Then she decided she didn
’
t care.
deep in thought.
She was back with her family, with who she belonged. So why
didn
’
t
she feel satisfied? Yes, she was glad she was back with her
children and Ted, but… something wasn
’
t there like it was
before. Something was missing.
shook her head.
“
Not Mama. What
is it?”
counter, gazing outside still. A raven landed in a tree opposite
the window, Dreamer looking at it.
“
What’
s missing, Spirit?
Tell me.”
“
You feel cold
towards Ted for no reason.”
“
But I love
him.”
“
Yes you
do.”
“
What should I
do?”
“
Talking always
helps, Dreamer Black.”
vanished.
“
Dreamer?”
“
You know
Miriam’
s
Pandora
’
s counsellor, don
’
t you?”
“
Yes I
do.”
“
And you and
Miriam- well, you were friends.”
“
I
know.”
“
Do you think
Pandora should stop going to her now that you’
re here?”
the window.
“
It’
s up to Pandora, not
me.”
“
But…
don’
t you even-”
“
Even what,
Ted?”
“
You almost
sound like you’
re not
bothered.”
“
I’
m not.”
The words were out before she could stop them. Ted stared
at his wife
’
s back, amazed.
“
What the hell
happened to you?”
“
Something died
in me the night Damon killed me. It’
s as simple as that.”
Dreamer didn
’
t know what was wrong with her. Neither did
Ted.
“
Did you even
want to come back, Dreamer?”
“
I
don’
t know anymore,
Ted.”
“
So it was all
lies, then. What you said to me when you got here.”
“
No it
wasn’
t.”
“
Something’
s holding you
back from me, Dreamer. What is it?”
“
Ted, if I knew
I could tell you.” Dreamer didn’
t even turn around. “I
’
m back with you at
least, isn
’
t that good enough?”
“
No, because
the Dreamer I knew and loved isn’
t back.”
at her, ready for it. Pandora and Marlon traipsed downstairs
happily, then they stopped dead as Dreamer said “Maybe I should go
until I find myself.”
“
Where will you
stay?”
“
That’
s my problem, not
yours.”
Ted
’
s eyes flashed: in three strides he was right in front of
her.
“
Your problem
is my problem.”
“
No it
isn’
t.”
“
I’
m your husband,” he
said angrily, hurt now. Dreamer shrugged.
“
Not if the
certificate was cancelled as soon as I died.”
Dreamer couldn
’
t help smirking. “You
’
re a
widower.”
“
Not anymore,”
he said heatedly. “Because you’
re alive.”
“
That’
s true. Now get out
of my way.”
“
No.”
“
Move,
Ted!”
“
No!”
of pure gold studded with diamonds. Pandora gasped at it: hers was
made of silver. Obviously Dreamer was even more powerful than
before she died.
“
I’
m not going to tell you
again.”
“
Go on then, do
it,” said Ted heatedly. “Go on!”
Dreamer
’
s wand sparked at the tip as she smiled.
“
You think I
wont?”
“
I think you
will,” Ted shot back, “And I don’
t care. Kill me if you want, stash my body in a ditch. Cast
the spell, Dreamer!”
Dreamer stared at him, then she said “It
’
ll hurt, but it wont
kill you.”
“
Go on
then!”
“
I wont if you
get out of my way and let me leave you.”
“Never.”
“
You asked for
it.
Conscendio!!”
“
Dad!” yelled
Marlon and Pandora, smoke swirling everywhere. Coughing, they ran
into the kitchen- only they soared back into the living
room.
“
This
isn’
t your argument,” Dreamer
said softly. “Stay there.”
sofa, waiting fearfully.
Behind the wall of smoke, Dreamer knelt next
to Ted. “Ted?”
His eyes flickered. Blood poured from his
mouth. Dreamer sighed, muttering a spell to heal him
completely.
“
You idiot. You
really thought you could stop me, right?”
“
Right,”
mumbled Ted, sitting up. “Because I love you, Dreamer.”
“
Don’
t,” she said, emotion
tearing at her. “I
’
m leaving.”
“
No you
aren’
t.”
“
Yes I am, and
I’
m never
returning.”
“
Follow in your
father’
s footsteps, then,” he
spat, sitting up. “Come in, wave a few hexes and then leave, not
caring about the damage you made. Never mind me or the kids,
Pandora especially.”
“
Don’
t compare me to Papa,
Ted. This isn
’
t like that.”
“
No? Well
Dreamer, enlighten me. Tell me what it’
s like.”
index up and down her wand. Ted eyed it warily, asking “Did Agnes
give that to you?”
“
Mama? No,”
Dreamer answered, looking at it. “It appeared for me as soon as
I’
d been with Mama for a week-
after my power returned to me.”
and Marlon tried to listen in the living room, on the other side of
the thick wall of smoke.
“
Cant hear
anything,” said Marlon sulkily, and Pandora moved away and sat on
the sofa again. Remembering Shadow, she ran upstairs.
“
Dreamer,
please don’
t
leave.”
A
soft smile curved Dreamer
’
s mouth as she looked at
Ted. “Why not?”
“
Because
it’
ll just drive me insane. I
hear from a stranger you
’
re alive, you turn up,
and then you leave as if you didn
’
t care about us. Like
you just came to let us know you
’
re fine before going
again.”
“
That
wasn’
t my intention, but now
that you say it-”
“
Dreamer!”
She laughed at his face. “I
’
m joking,
Ted.”
“
Good,” he said
huffily. “You’
re staying, do I
make myself clear?”
aloofness leave her body. Ted pushed himself up, glaring at
her.
“
I asked you a
question, Dreamer Black.”
to tease him.
“
What’
s in it for me if I
stay, Teddy Bear?”
“
I’
m not playing games
with you, Dreamer. I-”
surprising him.
* * *
ringing. Someone was actually calling her other than Marlon or Ted.
Shadow squeaked impatiently, as if trying to say “Answer it!”
Pandora reached for the phone as it stopped
blaring. She smiled at Shadow, saying “Missed call.”
cup of tea, wondering what Dreamer was doing right this
minute.
kitchen. This time Pandora and Marlon were with them, smiling
broadly as they finally had breakfast at the table. Trying to sound
serious, Ted said “Pandora, what was it you wanted to tell me last
night- I mean, this morning?”
Pandora didn
’
t answer him for a minute.
“
Well… I just
um… you saw me and Marlon in the park, right?”
“
Right,” said
Dreamer, smiling at her children. “That was beautiful.”
boosting the situation. Dreamer winked as she picked up her cup of
tea, waiting for the rest of it.
“
And- and
Mum’
s got a new wand,” said
Pandora. “So… can I keep-”
“
Yes,” said
Dreamer, while Ted said “No.”
“
Ted!”
“
Dreamer!”
“It was my wand, Ted.”
“
Was?” Pandora
repeated hopefully, and Ted scowled at her.
“
You are not
keeping that wand, Pandora.”
“
Yes you are,”
said Dreamer, still glaring at Ted. “It’
s my gift to you.”
“
Wow! Really?”
Then Pandora realised. “You made me take it.”
“
I certainly
did.”
“
Me too?” asked
Marlon, though he didn’
t say
what he took.
“
You too,” said
Dreamer, nodding. Ted wasn’
t
having any of this.
“
Kids,
it’
s inappropriate for you to
go around casting spells-”
“
We wont, we
swear,” said Marlon, Pandora nodding. “That’
s a promise.”
“
Spells in the
house and that’
s all,” said
Ted. “None in public, ok?”
“
Ok,” they said
together, eyes shining. “Thank you, Dad.”
Ted didn
’
t respond to that, though Dreamer smiled at
him.
“
Look
who’
s softening.”
“
Dreamer, you-
I… oh, I’
m going to work,” he
said huffily, as everyone laughed again. Sipping her tea, Dreamer
said “You have a day off.”
“
No I
don’
t, silly.
I
’
ve
got to hand in a load of paperwork and if I
’
m completely honest with
you, I didn
’
t even start any of it-”
up. “Morning.”
He
listened for a moment, then he said “Dad, it
’
s your boss.”
