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 (13 page)

“
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?”

Miriam peered at the clock on the wall. It
was twenty past five.

“
In the
afternoon. I need to catch up on my sleep.”

“
Ok.
Thanks.”

“
Anytime.”

Miriam put the phone down, yawning.

Would Ted tell Dreamer what she said? Miriam thought as she
laid down. Then she decided she didn
’
t care.

* * *

Dreamer stared out of the kitchen window,
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.

Agnes? She wondered, then she smiled and
shook her head.

“
Not Mama. What
is it?”

She drummed her long nails on the kitchen
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.”

Before Dreamer could retort the raven
vanished.

“
Dreamer?”

She turned to look at him. “Yes Ted?”

“
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?”

Dreamer shrugged a shoulder, turning back to
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.”

Hurt, Dreamer looked at him. Ted stared 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.”

Ted stared at her. “What did you say?”

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!”

Dreamer pulled out an incredible wand, made
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.”

Ted shook his head, arms held out.
“Never.”

“
You asked for
it.
Conscendio!!”

BANG!!

“
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.”

Pandora and Marlon obediently sat on the
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.”

Dreamer looked away from him, running her
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.”

Holding cushions to their mouths, Pandora
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?”

Staring at his angry face, Dreamer felt the
aloofness leave her body. Ted pushed himself up, glaring at
her.

“
I asked you a
question, Dreamer Black.”

Lord, how she loved him. But she also loved
to tease him.

“
What’
s in it for me if I
stay, Teddy Bear?”

“
I’
m not playing games
with you, Dreamer. I-”

She kissed him before he could finish,
surprising him.
* * *

Upstairs, Pandora was staring at her phone
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.”

Miriam put the phone down and picked up her
cup of tea, wondering what Dreamer was doing right this
minute.

* * *

Dreamer and Ted were laughing, still in the
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.”

Pandora silently thanked her mother for
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!”

They glared at each other, Dreamer saying
“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.”