Hybrid Trilogy

Chapter 36 Real Reality

When the smoke cleared Charlotte found herself once again back outside the pepper pot on Godalming high street, & it was still night, she took out her mobile phone looking at the digital time display, it had only been moments since she was last here, even though in the Witches dimension hours had past. She tried vainly to gather her thoughts, but her throat tightened & she burst into uncontrollable tears (she had seen her dear friend miss Magrat & really got a chance to speak with her mother & would probably never see either of them again) she knew in her mind that she needed to focus, so pulled herself together, waving her hand white smoke rapidly encased her & she was instantly in the kitchen at Loxwood farmhouse, looking at Ruby & George who seemed no longer surprised by Charlottes sudden comings & goings. This advancement in her magical power was new to her, very, very few Witches could command that kind of power, she assumed correctly that it was as a direct result of her being the daughter of the lady Alcina.

"Hello there, what do you know?" Asked a chirpy Ruby looking up "well its funny you should ask" Charlotte replied in an almost matter of fact tone and preceded to tell them both all that had happened in the past few hours or minutes by their time, none of them were really sure, in turn Ruby told Charlotte that Theon & his pack where at present keeping the Vampires at bay outside. "So, wasn't the lady Alcina, I mean your mother able to say who would try to assassinate her?" Asked George "no she said that whilst she felt her time was near, it was just that, a feeling with no clarity or proof that it would ever happen, but that she was sure that the fates where at play here, so there was no point in knowing something that you could neither change or for that matter affect the outcome" Charlotte replied. The three of them went out into the yard & there stood Mandrake just beyond the gate with Cassandra at his side, whilst around them other Vampires & Witches kept the pack of changelings busy. But Mandrake & Casandra just stood there staring, occasionally exchanging words, Theon stood just inside the courtyard ready to defend if needs be, but they just stood there looking.

For the first time as if she had previously been blind before, Charlotte studied Cassandra & saw a black ora around her, it was so black it was beyond blackness, tinged with a grey white light making it even more visible to her, she had faced Cassandra before, but did not recall ever seeing it's like. Likewise, Cassandra looked at Charlotte as the three came into the courtyard, and saw a whiter than white ora around her, both Witches staring at one another transfixed by what they saw.

"What is it you see?" Mandrake asked quietly, Cassandra continued to stare, oblivious to any outside interference. "I SAID WHAT IS IT YOU SEE WITCH" Mandrake shouted with a good deal of irritation in his voice, & as he did he struck her a glancing blow across the face, sending her staggering backwards, as he did this the apparent spell that had kept her & Charlotte locked together in a magical embrace was broken. "GET INSIDE NOW!!!" Barked Charlotte firmly as she marched determinedly towards where Mandrake stood, ordering Theon to watch over George & Ruby. Interesting a female with real power" Mandrake said casting a disapproving glance at Cassandra then grinning at Charlotte showing off his white canine fang like teeth "why not join me girl & come & be with a God" he smirked. "YOU......are no God & your not welcome here demon" said Charlotte acidly "oh & we were getting along so well" Mandrake sneered "I SAID LEAVE!!" she barked raising her eyebrow, sending Mandrake rolling like a bowling ball careering down a skittles ally, crashing unceremoniously into another group of Vampires & Witches, they all lay there momentarily in a heap. Mandrake stood abruptly scattering them all asunder, he looked grinning almost approvingly at Charlotte, tipped his forelock & marched away, Cassandra in hot pursuit. Theon came up to her, stood next to her staring at the departing duo & in his deep gravelly voice said, "What was all that about?" "Yes, do tell pray" said Ruby who had joined them at the gate. Charlotte said nothing, just looked after Mandrake & Cassandra as they marched off. The fight having almost been knocked out of those Vampires who had not been dusted, they too retreated into the shadows. "Forgive me Ruby, but I need to go home and feed my cat Abyss" Charlotte said, both Theon & Ruby looked confused at one another.