Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
I hear talking, but I don’t want to wake up. Why would the radio be on? Adhan usually doesn’t turn it on if I’m still asleep.
I hear someone mention zombies and I laugh to myself thinking of them on the treadmill. Then I remember being hit on the back and falling to the floor, being bitten and then nothing.
I open my eyes and quickly sit up, my head spins and I grab hold of it. “Head rush,” I say with a groan. I feel the bed dip and drop my arms looking at Adhan, who is looking at me in concern.
“Sweetheart, how are you feeling?”
“Alright, I guess. What did I miss?”
“You ate brains,” Sal says from the bottom of the bed.
It’s then I realise everyone is here, including Ebby and Sly, Molly, Elaine, Ma and Pa.
I stare at him in horror, until I hear someone snigger.
“I hate you so much right now,” I tell him, flopping to the side, so I’m leaning on Adhan, ignoring the others who are laughing.
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist,” Sal says grinning.
“Really, what did I miss?” I ask.
“You were bitten by a zombie, we brought you back here and Sly used magic to make sure you wouldn’t turn into one,” Adhan says, wrapping an arm around me.
“And he also helped Tink and Elaine make this tea for you,” Molly cackles while holding a cup out to me.
“Pretty sure the magic Sly used is enough to stop any zombie tendencies,” I say.
“Was it though?” Sly asks, grinning like mad.
I watch my Pa take the mug out of Molly’s hand and walk closer to the bed. “Drink son,” he says, holding the mug out closer to me.
“I added mint, for extra flavour,” Sly says grinning.
I shake my head. “Yeah, you’re gonna fit right in with us.”
“Drink,” Ma says, giving me her, ‘you better do as you’re told’ look.
“Please sweetheart,” Adhan says, leaning his head next to mine.
I give a big dramatic sigh. “Fine,” I move and grab the mug downing the foul drink. I cough at the end. “I can honestly say the mint didn’t help.”
Sly laughs. “I never said it would.”
“Gah,” is my only reply as I hand the mug back to my Pa and flop again into Adhan’s side.
“The Dark One also destroyed all dark magic that was still in the haunted walk,” Molly says.
“I can’t believe I missed zombies and vampires,” Cassie says.
“Don’t forget the rock apples,” I say.
“Rock apples?” Adhan asks.
Justice explains about the apple tree. “Everyone is loving the walk, and nobody's getting hurt.”
“Except for Ben and Ernest,” Sion points out.
“True. So now we just need to worry about the haunted house and the fair,” Adhan says looking at Molly. “What did you and Cleo decide? Should we close the event down?”
Molly shakes her head. “No, as Sion said, only Ben and young’un have been hurt. We can up the protection around you all to keep you safe. Cleo was going to protect her family.”
“I like the idea of us cackling around a cauldron,” Cassie says.
I hear groans from the others.
Molly cackles. “Perfect, that is your task for tomorrow night then witchlings, don’t forget to dress up. Now young’un has been dezombied , I’m off home,” and with that Molly practically sails out of the room.
“Did she just leave so she got the last word in and we couldn’t say no to the cauldron?” Nix asks, looking shocked.
Elaine laughs. “She did indeed. I’m leaving as well. Ernest, call me if you need me. Night everyone,” and just like that Elaine is gone.
“I didn’t really turn into a zombie, did I?” I ask the room generally.
“No sweetheart,” Adhan assures me.
“I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have anyway. We just wanted to make sure.” Sly tells me.
“I still don’t understand how it happened. I mean that zombie was a hologram. I put my hand through it.”
“We think that by doing that you made it solid,” Titus tells me.
I nod. “Okay class, no putting your hand through a hologram.”
“Is it wrong that I’m enjoying what the dark witches are doing? I mean not Ben and Ernest getting hurt, but it’s making for a great event,” Kean says.
“Someone also caught Shamus,” I tell them.
“Really?” Jude asks.
I nod. “Yeah, he was drowning his sorrows with Cleo,” I reply and smother a yawn.
“All right everyone, let’s let Ernest and Adhan settle down for the night,” Emily says.
I hug my parents, saying good night and thank Sly as Emily sweeps everyone out of our bedroom.
“Sweetheart, how are you really feeling?” Adhan asks, turning my head to look at him.
I touch the side of his face. “Honestly, apart from a bit tired, I feel fine. Thank you for helping with the vampires and getting that zombie off me. I’m sorry if I scared you.”
Adhan leans his head down so our foreheads are touching. “You’re welcome but I think I have a few more grey hairs.”
“How can you tell?” I ask cheekily. “Besides, I love your hair. You call it grey, I call it silver. My wonderful silver fox. I love you.”
“And I love you.”
We move and soon Adhan and I are kissing. I sigh into the kiss, I really do love him, so, so much. Eventually, we pull back.
“How long was I out for?”
“Thankfully only a couple of hours. Thank goodness Sly and his family are here. It would seem only dark magic could have broken the zombie effect. All zombies have also been destroyed. They went poof when Sly destroyed the dark magic lingering in the forest.”
“I like them. I hope they do move here,” I say.
“Me too. We chatted while I showed them around the house. They love the house and seem to be warming up to the town. Let’s settle down,” he says moving, pulling me down along with him.
“We’re still dressed,” I point out, before asking my magic to make our clothes vanish and soon we’re both naked and lying under the covers. I sigh and move around getting comfy, my head resting on Adhan’s shoulder, and I press as close as I can get to him, his arms wrapped around me. I drop a kiss on his chest. “Love you.”
“Love you too sweetheart.”
The next time I wake up it's morning. I see Adhan is awake and looking at me. He smiles and leans forward, kissing me good morning. I move so I’m now lying on top of him, still kissing, and heating things up.
After we made love, we finally crawl out of bed and shower together. Indeed, I can’t remember a time I showered alone since moving in with Adhan. Not that I’m complaining, I would literally spend all my time with him if I could. Practical, probably not, but I totally would.
I always wondered if I would ever meet someone I could see myself loving, moving in with, making a life with. I honestly never thought it would happen, but it did and here I am, both of us dressing to start our day. I look at my man and smile.
“That’s a lovely smile, sweetheart.”
“And it’s just for you,” I walk over to him and tilt my head up, he leans his down and we kiss. I wrap my arms around him and carry on kissing.
Finally, we pull back and he smiles down at me.
“I love you,” I tell him.
“And I love you, but I’m hungry, let’s go get breakfast.”
I laugh and grab his hand. “Me too.”
We reach the kitchen and I’m surprised that we’re not the last down, neither Cassie or Sion are down yet.
As we sit, we say a general hello and I grab the coffee pot, if any day deserves coffee, it’s today.
I see Alfred looking at me in concern.
“I’m fine I promise,” I say trying to reassure him. I turn so he can see my neck is completely chomp mark free, there isn’t even a scar.
“Good, you’re on your own this morning. I have some stuff to do and your dad is coming in after lunch.”
“You’re all heart, you know that?” I say pretending to scowl him.
Alfred laughs. “Sorry, Pops.”
I shake my head. “You’re such a slave master.”
I see Justice click his fingers and a wrapped present appears in his hand.
“Give this to Pops, Love,” Justice says, handing it to him.
Alfred looks at it before passing it to me, looking confused.
Justice is grinning like a loon.
“What is it?” Ben asks.
I feel the present, it’s squishy but can’t tell what it is. I just know it’s not a witch costume, or if it is, it’s very small! I open it as everyone looks on. I pull out a sock, looking confused before it hits me. I laugh and look at Alfred. “Master has given Ernest a sock, Master has freed me.”
I hear laughter from around the table.
“Looks like I have the day off,” I say grinning.
Alfred looks at Justice and mock scowls. “Really?”
“Well would you look at the time, I need to get to work. Love you,” and with a quick kiss on Alfred’s head, Justice rushes out of the kitchen to much laughter from us.
“I can’t believe my husband just did that,” Alfred says, trying to look grumpy but he ends up laughing instead.
We all finish eating breakfast when Cassie comes in.
“You okay?” Temp asks him, looking concerned.
He nods. “Yeah, Sion’s got a migraine, he can barely lift his head off the pillow.”
“I’ll pop up and have a look at him and then call Elaine or Justice if needed,” Temp tells his brother.
“Thanks. He hasn’t wanted anyone to know, but he keeps getting headaches. This is his first migraine though,” Cassie says.
“Maybe we should get Justice back and he can x-ray his head or something,” Adhan says, looking just as concerned.
“Let me message Elaine first then Justice and we’ll see what they say,” Temp says.
“Do you want me to sit with him, Cassie?” Nora asks him.
“Thanks, Nora, but I left him trying to sleep. I’ll have breakfast and then go and sit with him,” Cassie replies. “Are you staying home today?”
“Yeah, but I’ll be back to school on Monday,” she says.
“How was last night with Xander and Enoch?” I ask her.
She grins. “It was fun. Look, they drew pictures on my cast,” she says, pulling it out of the sling and showing the drawings off. One was a dragon and the other some kind of cat with nine tails.
“Nice. We can all add some to your cast if you want,” Jude tells her.
Nora's smile gets wider. “Thank you, Jude.”
We finish breakfast and I kiss Adhan goodbye and as I pass Alfred, drop the sock on his head.
“Wait up Ernest, I’ll come with you,” Sal says, kissing Jude before handing Connie over to him and standing up.
I pause at the door and look back at everyone. “Before I forget witchlings, we’re doing the cauldron tonight, everyone has to be there, otherwise I sic Molly on you. Cassie, you and Sion are excused,” and with that I grab Sal and leave the witchlings grumbling and the wolves laughing.