Chapter 68: Waiting For A Star To Fall

Chapter 68: Waiting For A Star To Fall

Once Jenny left I was able to heal my arm. I warned the others not to mention that we had discovered magic, even after Jenny joined us.

Even if she really wants to be part of our group, once she realises what a hopeless bunch we are, she may want to leave. Probably immediately. We dont want her going off with all our secrets.

When you say hopeless bunch, said Claire, you mean the rest of us, right? Youre not including yourself.

No, Claire, I am including myself. Just because I act like Im better than everyone doesnt mean I think Im great. I have a very low opinion of myself, trust me. It just means Im constantly being surrounded by people who are even less impressive. Its very depressing.

Ah think youll find this will cheer you oop. Flossie jumped in front of me, legs wide apart, hands on hips in superhero pose. She pointed a finger at me, and out of the end appeared a teeny, tiny flame. For about a microsecond, and then pfft, it was gone. Shit. Ah got it to last a bit longer last time.

There were a lot of hugs and jubilation, as you would expect for this minor miracle.

I also achieved magic level one, said Maurice, or at least I think I did. Thats how I caught the fish. He came right up to me, practically offered himself up on a plate. We just need a little more practice and well be as good as you.

They all looked to me for some sort of validation or a pat on the head or something. I gave them a thumbs up, which was about all I could muster.

We prepared and cooked the fish. Pitt cut it into slices like steak and it didnt taste all that different from a nice juicy t-bone. Everyone put the situation with Jenny on the backburner and we focused on enjoying our meal.

It was delicious, but I had lost my appetite and only picked at mine. Maurice was excited to tell us about how he had lured the fish closer to the platform using magic.

I couldnt believe it. The water started glowing and this fish made a beeline for me with this look on his face like, you talking to me?

Look. He picked up the fishs head and moved its mouth. You talking to me?

The weird thing was, the fish did actually look like Robert De Niro.

I shouldnt be too dismissive of what Flossie and Maurice had managed to do. This was the first time one of the others had successfully used magic, which was a big step forward. If they could master at least one magical ability, we would be a lot stronger as a group. Everyone else was full of congratulations and encouragement. Normally I would have been too (well, a little bit at least), but I had this sick feeling in my stomach, and it wasnt the fish. Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

Jenny stumbled into camp. Her lip was bleeding, one side of her face had a nasty bruise, half her armour was missing and she could barely stay upright. She grabbed onto me, more to stop from falling than out of any affection.

I knew it was you, she mumbled. I saw the light, and I knew, I knew.

She collapsed against my chest, which is when I saw the gash in the back of her head. It looked deep and nasty. Normally I would have recoiled and looked away, but for some reason I didnt feel any of my usual disgust for body fluids. I placed my hand on the gunge that quite possibly could have been bits of her brain and healed her.

It took a few minutes, and it didnt feel the way it did when I treated Dudleys cuts and scrapes. My eyeballs felt like they were boiling in my head.

After Id finished, her head looked no worse than a bad hair day. Jenny looked up at me, her eyes clear and back to normal. What did you do? How? Then she pushed me away and looked around, startled.

We have to get out of here. Hes coming.

Jenny, said Claire, her voice quiet and soothing, what happened?

Jenny looked from one face to the next like she was only just realising where she was. I told them about the frogmen. I told them how we didnt need to fight, but they said it was probably a trap, that you were tricking me. I tried to explain, but they wouldnt listen, so I said I was leaving. They said fine, but as I was preparing my gear something hit me and I

She paused and squinted one eye like she was remembering something.

When I came to I was I dont know where I was, but he was over me, taking my clothes off. He was saying how hed waited long enough and it was time I paid him back for looking out for me. He was going to.... Hed taken my weapons but hed forgotten about the knife in my boot. I stabbed him but I only hit him in the leg. I got up and ran but my head was spinning. I... I didnt know where I was going but I could hear him behind me. It was dark so he couldnt see me, but I couldnt see anything either. And then I saw this beautiful light and Hell have seen it too.

Its fine, I said. It wasnt fine at all. We were all going to get killed. But my body wasnt doing its usual lets-get-the-fuck-out-of-here dance and my brain hadnt gone into ta-ta-youre-on-your-own mode. I felt bizarrely calm.

Claire, you and Flossie take her to the lake. Swim out to the platform and get Jolie to treat her other injuries. Dudley, take your bow and find a good spot out there. I pointed into the dark. If it looks bad, shoot. Try not to hit me. If it looks really bad, run and get the girls to safety. Maurice, same goes for you. Circle behind once they get here, but if it looks like theres no chance, get to the water with the others.

They all followed my instructions without comment, the girls forcing Jenny to go with them. A few seconds later I was alone by the sputtering fire. I took out my sword and planted it in the ground, ready to use. Then I sat down and waited. I didnt have to wait long.

Dag came limping out of the dark.