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

A Witch Like No Other (8 page)


And Marlon?”
asked Miriam, and Ted smiled.


Dreamer had a
ring. Pure gold- unisex. That would be Marlon’
s gift.”


What will you
do if the ring appears for Marlon, Ted?”


I… I
don’
t know, Miriam. I
don

t
know.”

 

* * *

 

Pandora bolted upstairs as the front door rang. Annoyed,
Marlon called “It

s just James,

Dora! Jeez!”


Ready for
game, Marlon?” said James happily, holding a football under his
arm. “You know we cant afford to mess up this time.”


Ready as
ever,” Marlon said determinedly, fastening his shin pads. “Dad, I
wont be back till seven this evening.”


Ok,” said Ted
from the kitchen, not really paying attention. He was deep in
conversation with Miriam about Pandora.

Marlon and James came into the kitchen,
wanting to hear too.


Does she
always run like that when the doorbell rings?”


Always,” said
Marlon bitterly. “If only she’
d come out with me, I

d-”


Go and ask,”
said Miriam. “Do you think she’
d say yes?”

Everyone shrugged, Marlon saying “I

ll try get her to
come.”


I
don’
t think
football

s her thing,” started James, and Marlon answered “Tell the
coach something important came up.”


But- all
right. Can I come too?”


No, idiot.
It’
s a brother sister
thing.”

 

* * *

 


No, camel
mouth.”


Come on

Dora!” whined Marlon.
“Please!”


No.
I’
m not coming out with you
and your stupid boyfriend. ”


James left ten
minutes ago- and he’
s not my
boyfriend, Pandora!”


Well you seem
real close for just friends,” Pandora said from inside her bedroom.
“I’
d bet all my money
he

s
gay.”


Well
he’
s not,
he

s
got a girlfriend.”

Pandora paused at that. “He- he

s got a
girlfriend?”


Yep.”


Why does he
want to help me?”


He sees you
like a sister, silly. He’
s
always telling me to help you.”

Pandora looked at her mobile, then she said
“All right.”

Marlon

s heart sped up. “All right what?
You

ll
come?”


Yes.”


Dad! Dad, she
said all right!” said Marlon happily, beaming at Ted, who was at
the foot of the stairs. “She’
s
coming!”


So hyped,”
muttered Pandora as she grabbed her jacket. “Jeez.”

 

* * *

 


This is where
we saw the black swan,” Pandora told her brother as she pointed at
the lake. “It just appeared.”


D’
you really think Mum
might be alive, Pandora?”

Marlon was the eldest. He

d always thought he had
to set an example, be mature even though he wasn

t. And missing Dreamer
as much as he did, he couldn

t help asking his little
sister what she thought.


I… I
don’
t know. Miriam said
it

s
just wishful thinking, but I don

t think she meant it.
She

s
as scared as Dad is.”


And you?”
probed Marlon impatiently: that wasn’
t a good enough answer. “Are you scared?”


No,” Pandora
said. “She’
s our Mum,
remember? Why should I be?”


That’
s what I think too,”
Marlon said, smiling. It felt so good to be out and about with his
sister again. “Dad and Miriam can hear her.”


I know.
It’
s not fair.”

Marlon nodded as some girls walked past, smiling at him.
Pandora rolled her eyes as he smiled back, and they giggled. Taking
her brother

s hand, she glared and said “He

s taken
already.”


What the-
Pandora!” said Marlon, stunned as they all walked off with their
noses in the air. “What did you do that for??”


We’
re meant to be
spending quality time together, remember?”


Slipped my
mind,” grumbled Marlon as the sun revealed itself at
last.

Something sparkled on the grass, catching
his eye.


What’
s that?”


What’
s what?” said
Pandora curiously, but he didn

t answer as he left her
side, staring down at the grass. Pandora looked at her mobile, at
the only four names in her contact list. Ted, Marlon, Miriam, and
James.

Pandora decided to text their father, knowing
he

d
be anxious.

 

* * *

 


I
hope she

s having a good time,” Ted said to Miriam worriedly.
“Pandora and Marlon aren

t compatible for more
than an hour.”


Yes they are,”
said Miriam thoughtfully. “Marlon loves his sister very much.
Pandora loves him too, she just enjoys being defiant.”

Ted looked at Miriam, expression blank. “You
know her well.”


She does open
up to me,” said Miriam, a little smugly. “After all, I am her
mentor- and godmother. She does love her brother, Ted.”

Before Ted could answer his mobile went off.
Without taking his eyes off Miriam, he reached down and picked it
up off the table. Miriam had no choice but to stare back until he
lowered his gaze.


It’
s Pandora.”


Is she all
right? Where is she? Are they-”

Ted

s broad smile stopped her sort as he said “Look at
it.”

Miriam took the phone to read the text.

 

Having a good time, Dad. I never
thought
it would be this fun hanging out with
Marlon
but it is. I just told some girls to get
lost in the

park, and he

s riled for that, ha ha.

Pandora.

 


Ted,
that’
s lovely.”


It is,
isn’
t it?” he said happily.
“She

s
really coming along.”


Shall we go
and meet them with some sandwiches?”

Ted smiled at her. “Sure.”
* * *

 

Ted and Miriam both opened their mouths to call them,
Miriam holding the basket of food and drinks. Then Miriam pulled
Ted into the trees as soon as she saw Marlon

s frightened
face.

“‘
Dora! Pandora, come here!”

Pandora turned, expression deadpan. “What
for?”


You’
ve got to see this,”
said Marlon as he bent and picked something shiny off the grass.
“It

s
the… it

s-”

Pandora rolled her eyes and walked over to
her brother. “What?”


The ring,”
breathed Marlon. “Mum’
s ring,
look!”

Pandora stared down at the ring in his
hands, amazed.


No
way.”


Yes way! What
should I do with it?”

Pandora smiled, saying “I don

t know, Marlon. Why not
chuck it in the lake and forget all about it? We wont mention this
ever again, all right?”


I cant
just-”

Then he realised she was being sarcastic,
the way she was glaring at him.


We’
ll tell Dad first, ok
idiot? But whatever you do, don

t let him take it off
you. Mum wants you to have it, obviously. Try it on?”

Marlon hesitated, then slipped on the ring.
Pandora

s green eyes widened as it began to glow on his finger,
Marlon staring down at it.


It’
s a magic ring,” he
said amazedly. Without warning, he whirled round and pointed at the
lake. The great circle of water rippled at once, the birds startled
as they were buffeted around.


Nice,” said
Pandora, impressed. “You’
re a
wizard.”

Marlon shook his head. “It

s the ring, not
me.”


Oh yeah? Take
it off and do it again.”

Marlon pulled the ring off and gave it to
Pandora before flicking his hand at the lake. This time the water
rose slightly, waves crashing against the bank. Marlon stumbled
backward as the ducks and swans screeched fearfully, Pandora
clapping for her brother.


And you act
like magic doesn’
t
exist!”


Shut up

Dora,” he muttered. “I
thought it was the ring.”


It only glowed
because it acknowledged your power, Marlon.”


You know a
lot!” he said, then he paused. “What about you?”


Me?” she said
tonelessly. “What about me?”


Don’
t play innocent. I
know you

ve been doing magic in your bedroom,” said Marlon, smirking
at her. “I saw the box glowing.”


So?”


So I want to
see you do something. Come on ‘
Dora, I know you can.”

Pandora hesitated. “Will you tell Dad?”


And get in
trouble? Hell no.”


Promise?”


I promise,
Pandora. Now show me the magic!”

Pandora pulled her wand out of her inside pocket, pointed
it at a swan as she thought of that Disney film Bambi and
said
“Alterio!”

BANG!!
Marlon yelped, staring at the doe.
“Whoa!”
Pandora smiled, waving her wand. Smoke
swirled around the doe, soon clouding it from view. The wind blew
seconds later, clearing the smoke. Marlon gasped as the swan stared
at them haughtily before splashing back into the lake and swimming
away.


Marlon!
Pandora!”

They whirled round, staring at their
father

s angry face.

 

* * *

 


Give me the
wand, Pandora.” Ted held out his hand. “Now.”


No.”


Now!”


No!”


Give me the
wand!”


Don’
t shout at her!” said
Marlon angrily, pulling his sister away from Ted.
“Don

t
give it to him, Pandora. He

s jealous.”


Jealous!”
spluttered Ted. “You think I’
m
jealous of you two?”


Yes!” said
Marlon angrily. “What’
s wrong
with being-”


Nothing,” said
Miriam desperately, thinking of Dreamer. “Nothing!”


Don’
t encourage them,
Miriam!” said Ted angrily, glaring at her.


I’
m not, Ted.” Miriam did
her best to stay calm, using her mentor technique. “Dreamer was my
friend at school and college; I

ve seen worse than what
Marlon and Pandora was doing.”


You’
re not helping,” he
said furiously. “Give Dreamer

s wand,

Dora!”


It’
s mine now, Dad!”
Pandora pocketed the wand, backing away. “Mine, ok?
You

re
not taking it away from me!”


Pandora-”


Stay back-
stay back or I’
ll hex
you!”


Ditto,” said
Marlon, joining his sister’
s
side. “Stay right back, Dad.”

Ted stared at them, then he turned to
Miriam.


I’
ve lost my kids in the
blink of an eye.”


No you
haven’
t-”


Do you know
why I cant stand magic? Do you?”

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