Into Madness - Part 2

Looking for the beginning? Part 1 is here.

… That Could Get Worse

A flicker of movement behind Sheila caught Bernard’s eye. 

Alyssa, his cousin, was standing in the doorway of the room she shared with Sheila. Her long blue hair was being held back from her face with a star fish – Glimmer – the familiar she’d had since they were both kids splashing in the ocean together. She raised an eyebrow at him. He didn’t need any more than that to get her message of ‘you’re going to land in all sorts of trouble … and then our dads are going to flip.’ Having been raised together after his mother had died, they knew each other inside and out. 

Photo by Ludovica Dri on Unsplash

Bernard glared at Arwin. The kid looked like he was braced for another blow, but Bernard knew he couldn’t bring himself to strike out again. “Oh, get out of my way squirt.” 

Arwin didn’t move. “Just because your dad and uncle are some sort of hot-shot monster hunters doesn’t mean squat about you – I’m not the only one who heard Professor Mernez say your lack control is more likely to kill folks then save them.” 

Bernard was ready to hit him again. 

“Would you two quite it?” Kev stepped out of his room. “You want to take out your anger? Do the world a favour and take it out on some monsters. That’s what we’re here to learn to fight.” 

Bernard hesitated. He hadn’t met the broad-shouldered African youth until they had started the school year together, but he’d heard about him from his father. 

Kev’s parents had been accomplished magicians who’d died protecting a small town in Tanzania from a Coumlami – a dark cloud of a monster that fed on people’s fears and turned them against one another. Some of the biggest wars in human history could be chalked up to Coumlani, but thanks to Kev’s parents the only one who suffered that day was the 10-year-old they had left behind. 

“Like I said,” Arwin shoot back, “if he tries anything, he’ll get the people he’s protecting killed. I, on the other hand, have already memorized The Compendium of Magical Attacks, Magical Healing for the Battle Mage, and Mind to Mind: A modern collection of mental magics.” 

“You think that’s impressive?” Kev said. “That’s child’s play compared to what we’ll need against monsters. Everything that they’ve been teaching us is child’s play. It’s crap.” 

“Show me a spell and I’ll have it memorized in no time.” Arwin answered back. 

“Yeah well, show me a spell and I’ll actually be able to do it.” Bernard countered. 

Kev watched them seriously for a second. “You mean it?” 

Bernard felt a waiver of doubt and saw Alyssa straighten up from her slouch against the door jam. “What have you got in mind?” 

“The Library.” 

From the way Kev said it, Bernard knew he wasn’t talking about the large room on the main floor of the house where their assigned readings came from. 

“You mean the library,” Arwin said, his brow furrowing, “the one beneath the manor – the greatest repository of magical knowledge on the planet?” There was a sudden glint of excitement in Arwin’s eyes. 

“I’m in,” All thoughts of expulsion flew out of Bernard’s head despite Alyssa’s scowl. 

“You wouldn’t understand a word,” Arwin said, “but you can watch me read if you really want.” 

“Boys … ” Sheila’s protest was too little too late. 

“Tonight,” Kev said, “I’ve got a hold of the key and we’ll leave as soon as the adults are asleep.” 

Part 3 is coming soon!

Looking for another read? Chapter 16 of Sacrifice is now up on Wattpad.