Avis Blackthorn and the Magical Multicolour Jumper (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 2) (35 page)

I was wrong about him, I had judged too early. I realised my mistake now, letting my judgement be clouded by jealousy. This all started because of Tina — I was mad green with envy and could not hide it, taking out my frustrations on him.

Now I rewinded everything through my mind I remembered what Tina said to me in the clock tower when she was maddened by the jumper. Something about being told not to talk to me, being warned away — I assumed at the time that it was Jasper — my hatred of him forming quick judgments, lumping all my accusations at him. When in fact, now that I looked at him, sitting with tear tracks on his bloodied, dirt ridden face, his eyes gazing upwards in mournful recollection — I realised that he wouldn't have done that. It just didn’t fit together somehow. Jasper had his face resting on his knees, stroking his pendant.

I cleared my throat. “I don’t know if you noticed,” I said. “But we have the same pendant.”

Jasper frowned and glanced at me — I pulled my identical pendant from beneath my shirt and held it up — the dull golden metal swung softly, revealing the black rune mark cast deep in the metal, reaching the ends of the jagged, uncouth edges. Jasper gazed across at it, a look of utter disappointment on his face. I didn't think it would have that effect, he began shaking his head.

“I thought,” he said slowly looking down at his. “I thought this was special.” He twirled his own jagged golden pendant with the same black rune mark on it around in his fingers. “Hang on… show me yours again,” he said, before sliding across the floor towards me. “Pass it here a second.”

“Why?”

“Come on just do it,” he said — I pulled the chain and it clicked off. “Look…
”
he put our two pendants next to each other. “They fit together perfectly.”

He was right. I was flabbergasted — my pendant’s right edge slotted perfectly into Jasper’s pendants left side. The two identical runes sitting side by side as one. “What does the rune mean?” I said.

“No idea, it’s no rune I’ve ever seen,” Jasper said passing me my pendant back — I would have expected Jasper to have known, out of anyone. “Don’t look so surprised. I am not the fountain of
all
knowledge.”

“So what do you reckon they are?”

Jasper shook his head, squinting down at his own with his head cocked because he could only see out of one eye, his left was swollen bigger than puss-filled sprat bite. “Well they look like they were both one, at some point. And were then separated — I honestly have no idea. The runes look ancient, they are not modern runes — maybe they are
sigils
?” Jasper shrugged. “Where did you get yours?”

“My Granddad gave it me at the start of the year,” Jasper nodded as if all was right. “Except for the fact that he died five years ago.”

Jasper stared at me. “He’s dead? And he gave you that?”

“Yeah. In the summer holidays, I was running away from my brother and then I found myself in a dark room. He spoke to me about stuff and then gave me the pendant channeller and a bag of gold. I have no idea how that works…”

Jasper grimaced as if it was a particularly tricky puzzle. “Could have been someone pretending to be your Granddad?”

“But who? Who could have got into my castle, who isn't a member of my family, who hate me, to give me something that would potentially help me? Unless it’s not to help me?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, they’ve always wanted me to be evil. Perhaps this channeller helps make me evil?”

Jasper shook his head. “That’s ridiculous. You can’t blame what you did this year on that. You have to face up to it — you got jealous.” I swallowed — he was right. “My guess is before your Granddad died, and for whatever reason, he put a destiny charm on the pendant — passing it to you. Knowing the others in your family might try and get it. I mean, it can’t be a coincidence that we are both seventh sons and both have identical channellers?”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Ghostly Goings On

I
forged a deeply uncomfortable patch in which to lie in, sweeping away the rubble and dust revealing a frosty, hard floor, I curled up into my robes. We slept a long, painful, cold sleep — both too proud to get close to each for warmth. That would be weird. Dreams are always strange when your stressed. Horrible, bizarre visions hurled themselves around my brain. I was sure I heard Jasper crying softly to himself. The urge to lay an empathetic hand across his back and say; ‘
it’s all right…’
never arrived. Instead, I lay shivering hoping that we would be found, wishing to god that this small act I could not bring myself to perform, did not condemn me into being anything like my brothers and sisters.

I don’t know when it was — what time, night or day, but I woke to this strange sound. A scratching, scraping then rasping noise was coming from somewhere deep below us. Jasper looked up and put a finger to his lips. I lifted my head, the sound came in rhythmic waves. And then, as it got closer we realised it was coming from the fireplace!

Was it Malakai? Coming back to finish the job? Jasper and I sat up, scrambling backwards against the rubble and lifting our arms upwards at the fireplace. We waited. Breath caught somewhere in our chests. Hearts beating faster than a hummingbirds flap. And then… a head came coughing and spluttering into the fireplace…

“Ahh,
pah! Pah! Pah
!” it went — I grimaced with terror at the horrifying sight. The face of this…
demon?
Was black and grey, its face contorted into a… hold on a minute… this wasn't a demon, it was…

“Robin?” I said. But the face had just got a mouthful of ash and was choking violently.

“Hiya!” he said, before coughing again. “I’ve found ya’, at last!”

“Oh thank god!” Jasper cried with joy.

“I’ve never been this pleased to see you!” I jumped across to the fireplace as Robin climbed out, and hugged him. Soot and ash went everywhere but it didn't matter.

“How did you find us?” said Jasper.

“I knew Avis came up here after you,” said Robin smarting. “But when he wasn’t back in the dorm this morning I knew something must have happened. They got ghosts looking for ya’ and everything, got everyone up doing a headcount,” he said looking about the destroyed room. “What the bloody hec’s happened in here?”

“Malakai,” I said watching Robin’s beady eyes grow with terror.

“What you saw him?” he cried.

“Saw him?” said Jasper. “We fought him, and just about got away with it, until he collapsed this room as a parting gift.”

“Goodness me. Right well let’s get out of here. I enlarged the fireplaces from below — why didn't you think of doing that yourselves? Then you could have climbed down.”

Jasper indicated the boulders and rubble. “Malakai cursed it, we couldn't do any spells from inside the room. Couldn't even light a fire.”

“Yeah, well that’s probably just as well. I like my face how it is,” said Robin — and we laughed, following him into the fireplace and at last — to safety.

Climbing
nimbly out of a large open fireplace we stepped into a classroom — this one looked like it was actually being used. I let my arms drop by sides, that climb down was excruciating and now they throbbed. Robin patted himself down, billows of ash flew into the air and formed a thick dirty cloud around him like he carried his very own atmosphere. Jasper finally climbed through the grate and smiled weakly. “Thank god that’s over,” he said. “Thanks Robin.”

Greeting us as we opened the door was a terrifying sight — several Magisteers, fronted by a stony faced Lily. Terror, likened to that of coming face to face with Malakai, filled me. The Lily’s grey eyes rested upon us like a Wolfraptor on its prey.

“Thank you Robin,” he said — Robin looked down at the ground whimpering.

***

I was getting quite used to being in the Lily’s office by now. I had the impression that, had we not just arrived, it would have been a hive of activity. Piles of papers were hovering in mid-air, shaking slightly as they readied to their intended course — having stopped when the Lily walked back in the room — he needed silence to talk to us. Books too, that were on the march in a large circle from one bookshelf to another stopped and fell to the floor with small thuds. An endless assortment of devices littered the room haphazardly, it was not the tidy office it once was.

The Lily walked towards his desk and turned. I knew we were in trouble, even more trouble than I had been before. But how could it get any worse? I was already being exspelled, what worse a thing could they inflict upon me?

“Magisteer Simone, can you close the door please.”

The Magisteers followed us into the office and watched mournfully from the either side of me and Jasper, like we were on the march to the noose. The Lily sat down at his desk, sighed and folded his hands, before his eyes came to rest slowly, on me and Jasper — looking like a sorry pair of chimney sweepers. “So, would you like to tell me what happened?”

“Well Sir,” said Jasper sounding calmer than he looked. “I was up high in the Heptagon room, out of bed after hours which I am immensely sorry for. Then, Avis charged into the room and attacked me — he kept saying that I was… that I was Malakai Sir.”

“Indeed?” said the Lily, his eyes swaying to me. I didn't bother saying anything, what was the point?

“He was mad Sir, berserk even… he tried to kill me, he said as much.” — I knew the git would sell me out, as soon as we were out of the room. He carried on. “And then, well he used the
S-Z-U-V
spell on me Sir.”

“Not a
Severso-Zxanxirious-Unquart-Vilunos?”
said Mallard who looked shocked and appalled — I was not as shocked as them, in fact I was quite proud that I had managed to do it — for it was a very hard spell to do. I suppose you can only really do it if your pumped full of adrenaline like I was. I found it in on my old list of spells from last year that I had collected from odd, old books and such — not knowing what half of them did.

The Lily sighed. “Violence. Numerous school rules broken. You were already being exspelled. Would you like to add anything else to this growing list Avis?”

I felt a wave of sorrow ripple through me. So many times I had tried to get the evidence I needed to be able to stay at school and every time I was thwarted. “No, Sir.”

“You don’t care?” he said.

“Care?” I said. “
Care
? Of course I care! This place is my home — more than anywhere else I’ve felt at home
here
. Now I have to go back to my parents who hate me because I am not
evil,
not properly anyway. I will be their scivvy, their male cinderella, their pathetic magic-less mistake. So yes, I care. I really do. More than anything. I would rather say that I am an orphan than be labelled a Blackthorn.”

A silence fell — and I felt a tear roll down my cheek. Jasper seemed to be struggling with some horrible internal problem, he kept clenching his fists next to me, going to say something and then stuttering.

Partington raised a hand. “And if it wasn’t for Robin Wilson you’d still both be—” he cried.

“Thank you Magisteer Partington.” The Lily waved. “I think we should bring forth your expulsion Avis. I think we need to get you out of this school forthwith. You attacked someone, almost killed them…”

I swallowed. “But Sir—”

The Lily waved a hand for silence. “I will escort you to your dorm where you can say your goodbyes and get your stuff…”

“But Sir—”

“I’ve heard ENOUGH!” he called. It reverberated hard around the room. I was trying to tell him, in vain, that we had just defeated Malakai. “We will get your things, call your parents and be off back home in time for dinner.”

“But…” Tears fell down my face uncontrollably, as reality hit me. I was going home — I would never see this school, my sanctuary, ever again. I had ruined it — and it was all my fault, I had lost sight of the bigger picture, of my appreciation of this marvellous place. How it had become my home, away from my parents and most of my family. To a place of safety and warmth and friendship, and learning, and food, and peace, and adventure. And now, it was all gone. Jasper was shaking next to me.

“That isn't all Sir!” Jasper blustered, eventually. “It isn't all, I didn't tell you everything…”

The Lily frowned hard at him. “What do you mean?”

“Well, Sir,” said Jasper fumbling around with something in his pockets. “You see, I wasn't entirely truthful. During the time that me and Avis were fighting a voice came out of nowhere. And then… well…
Malakai
appeared — he’s smaller now. He
attacked
us.”

The Lily sat back in his high chair and looked up at the ceiling. “So Avis has managed to persuade you to lie for him?”

“It’s true Sir! I swear! I wouldn't lie, I don't like… I mean, I didn't like him… but it’s the truth and it would be a shame not to—”

The Lily waved a large hand. “Ok…” he said, white face flushing pink. The Magisteers around us did not say a word, but I felt their gaze upon me, bearing into us harder than knives.

“So you have evidence of this attack?”

“But Sir,” said Partington. “This is a witness for an attack. Under school rules you only need—”

“Very handy excuse though isn't it? Especially without evidence. Would you have all the pupils running around causing mayhem then saying it was Malakai?”

I couldn't believe it. Jasper had revealed the information that could have got me my place back and the Lily didn't want to hear it. He stood and walked slowly to the door of his room.

“Shall we?” he said looking at me. The Magisteers stood dumfounded at this latest revelation — Malakai had been in the school. And yet, I was the one being treated like a criminal.

“Wait!” said Jasper who looked frustrated — he couldn't keep still, his head darting all about the room, hands shaking. “I do have the evidence.” The Lily didn't move. “When I spelled Malakai, it must have come off. I found it when Avis was out cold. It’s this…”

Jasper pulled a hand out of his pocket revealing a small patch of frayed black material. My heart thundered. The Lily’s eyes fixed to it as he slowly made his way towards Jasper — he didn't say anything, but stared down intently at it, as if it were a fascinating, horrible new breed of magical insect.

“Straker, can you do the honours,” he said.

“Of course,” Straker took the small patch of black material and placed it on the floor. In a matter of seconds visions and images flooded into the room. A small ghostly outline of Malakai rose up through the floor, and began attacking a translucent Jasper and I. As we watched the events unfold Magisteer Mallard placed a hand to his face, Partington watched through his fingers, Straker’s brow furrowed, Yelworca with a pained expression, and Dodaline wiping her eyes with a hanky.

When the vision faded, as rubble and stone fell all around our ghostly doppelgängers, all eyes turned to us. No one said anything for a long time, maybe a minute. The Lily took the piece of material.

“Well,” he said. “This is the evidence you needed. This changes things.” His expression changed and softened. “I am happy to say that Avis, you can stay.”

A flood of emotions entered all at once and I didn't know what to think or feel first. Tears of joy suddenly fell down my face. A small round of applause resounded around the room from the Magisteers. It was over, it was finally over. I was staying!

“What you did was… incredible,” said Straker. “You both defeated the most evil sorcerer of all time!” I caught Partington’s eye and he winked.

I glanced up at Jasper. “None of this would have been possible, if you were not the bigger man and did the right thing.” I said — Jasper smiled meekly.

“Right,” said the Lily still grave. “And you did
Revelendo-Mallum-Rejicio
together?”

“Yes Sir,” said Jasper as the Lily rubbed his chin. “Twice.”

The Lily sighed deep in thought. “I think this would have been enough to expel Malakai from the school for good. But, if I know him, he will be back. I will personally do a thorough sweep of the entire school. Magisteer Simone, please call up every single ghost. Magisteers Straker, Dodaline and Yearlove can you please repeat the
Revelendo-Mallum-Rejicio
spell to make doubly sure that we have expelled him.” The Lily looked fiery. “Time to get yourselves cleaned up and off to the Healer’s room. Then your free to enjoy the end of the year, in peace.”

***

The
news spread like a wild fire in Lunordria (one of the Seven Magical Kingdoms, it’s very hot). I don’t know how it got out because Jasper and I were in the Healer’s room when it happened. Robin came to see us first and we told him what happened.

Green rays from the floating sun in the middle of the Healer’s room caressed our wounds and injuries, feint light bobbing up and down. Small cuts healed over and bruises and aches soothed. Robin had wet hair when he came in, having just had a shower and proceeded to sit on one of the nearby beds listening enthralled to the account of us defeating Malakai — shaking his head the whole time as the Healer spread some foul smelling ointment infusion on my neck causing me to gag.

“If it smells bad, it’s usually good for you,” smarted the Healer before doing the same to Jasper.

“The same can’t be applied to food though,” said Robin helpfully. She glanced at him, but didn’t say anything. The next moment, the double doors opened again.

“Oh my goodness! You’re okay!” It was Tina, she marched into the room, flanked by Ernie, and ran straight to Jasper, all but knocking the Healer out of the way before hugging him tightly. “I’ve just heard, you and Malakai? Is it true?”

Ernie, with a grave expression came to sit next to Robin on the bed. “What happened?” he said, as Tina turned round to listen — I was a little upset that I didn’t get a hug. I explained the story as best I could, trying not to gag at the foul fumes from the ointment. I explained truthfully, that I thought Jasper was Malakai, that I went after him for I was desperate and wanted to save my place at this school, the battle with Malakai and the eventual redemption — of which I owed to Jasper, who saved my place at Hailing Hall.

Tina didn’t say anything, I don’t think she could — caught between anger and appreciation — I had saved Jasper’s life at the Riptide Stadium and she knew he was retuning the favour. She couldn’t look at me though, that hurt.

Ernie was smiling. “I’m so glad you get to stay here.”

“Who told you?” said Jasper. “About Malakai being back?”

“We just heard it from people downstairs in the Chamber,” said Ernie. “They were saying
Avis and Jasper had fought Malaka
i
— I don’t know how they found out.”

I looked at Jasper who looked puzzled — who could it have been? “This means,” said Tina. “That the Lily is going to come under
a lot
of stick.”

And she was right.