Page 64 of Spirit Witch
‘Seven years, Rafe. Seven more years of this.’ I lay down on the narrow bed and closed my eyes. ‘I’m going to sleep. Wake me up in 2024.’
Winter put an arm round me. When I didn’t twitch, he sat on the edge of the bed. I scooted over to give him room and he lay down. It was a tight fit but he was snuggly and warm. I grinned to myself. By comforting me, he’d stop worrying that all this was his fault. It was a win-win situation. I relaxed and took advantage of the peace and quiet.
‘Food,’ Brutus demanded.
‘It might have escaped your notice, Brutus,’ I murmured, ‘but I’m not in a position to get you any food right now. You’ll have to be patient.’ My nostrils tickled as the smell of tuna drifted over.
‘Aw,’ said the irritatingly familiar tones of Tarquin, ‘you two look so sweet together.’
‘Food,’ Brutus repeated.
Winter and I sighed simultaneously. I opened one eye. Tarquin didn’t just have tuna with him. That looked like pizza. Damn him for being thoughtful.
‘Food,’ Brutus said, clearly hoping this was third time lucky.
I shrugged. My stomach was already growling. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. ‘Food,’ I said.
Winter sat up. ‘Foooooood,’ he groaned.
Tarquin looked from Brutus to me to Winter. ‘You know you three are really strange sometimes.’ He offered a disarming smile. ‘But I aim to please.’ He passed through the bowl of tuna and the pizza then, as we started wolfing down the food, he jangled a set of keys. ‘I’m not just here bringing you a late-night snack. I’m here to free you.’ His smile grew. ‘You can thank me later.’
I crammed more cheesy goodness into my mouth. Anything to avoid having to speak. Being rescued by Tarquin Villeneuve was almost more than I could bear.
‘The good news is we know where Hal Prescott is. He’ll be picked up before you can say “thank you very much, Tarquin darling”.’
I swallowed. ‘What? Where is he?’
Tarquin shook his head. ‘No, you say “thank you very much, Tarquin darling” first. I am your saviour after all.’
I wiped my greasy fingers on my jeans and stood up, ambled over to him and gazed at him through the bars. ‘Tarquin, if you don’t tell us exactly where Blackbeard is, or what is going on, I will reach through here and throttle you.’ I smiled pleasantly just to show I meant it.
He rolled his eyes. ‘You’re the one behind bars, Ivy. You’re the one who…’
Winter stood and walked up beside me. Tarquin’s voice faltered. ‘Fine,’ he snapped. ‘The investigation team did really well. They found a book in Blackbeard’s flat with a bookmark indicating that he is interested in Uffington. There’s an ancient drawing of a white horse cut into a hillside there which…’
I passed a hand over my eyes. For goodness’ sake. ‘Yeah, yeah. We know that. How do you know where Blackbeard himself is, though?’
‘Because the car registered in his name has been located at a small hotel on the outskirts of Uffington and he’s already checked in as a guest.’ Tarquin’s voice was smug. ‘We have the place surrounded. Blackbeard is ours.’ He rubbed his chin. ‘But I’ve suggested we rename him The Bearded Butcher. I think it will stick. It has a better ring to it than Blackbeard.’
‘Tarquin, wait. You know you can’t use magic against him, right?’
He scoffed. ‘Of course! We all know that. Armed police are going to do the heavy lifting. It’ll be the same team that brought you two in. They’re highly talented and more than ready to save the day. With our input, of course.’
‘“Our” referring to…?’
‘Me. Us. The Order.’ Tarquin’s expression was blank. ‘Who else?’
‘Who else indeed?’ Winter murmured.
‘Tarq,’ I said slowly, ‘this operation is taking place over a hundred miles away.’
He bobbed his head. ‘Yes.’
‘But instead of being there, you’re here.’
‘Everyone else is afraid of you. Once I’ve released you and completed the paperwork, I will be joining the others in Uffington.’
I scratched my head. ‘Hmmm. And how much paperwork is there?’
