Chapter two

Getting Home

I made it to the P.T.A meeting. Not that being stuck in a painting with a self proclaimed "dark sorcerer" made that a given. The tower was now in an unknown frame because in a moment of irritation I "zapped" (is that the right term?) the lever. Still after acclimatizing to my beautiful alterations I had made I marveled at the light that came from the high walls and ceiling with no obvious source.

Alistair was knocking on the door and listening to the sound it made. I ventured closer.

"Can we open the door yet?"

"No."

His deep smooth voice echoed in the huge space. He hadn't turned away from the door and his eyes narrowed as he tapped the frame of the door lightly with his wand. His wand was narrow and elegant and made of wood and bone in rippling horizontal bands. It seemed both very powerful and ordinary at the same time. It was odd to look at.

I examined my own again. It was a smooth taper piece of wood, pale like holly and slightly darker at the handle. It gave me the same strange feeling in my eyeballs of ordinary and weird.

I slide it back up my sleeve and it fit even though it shouldn't. I was doing what "normal" people did when confronted with magick. They always look away. As a general rule I would look deep into those places, into the shadows with faces, yet this was different. It wasn't an overlay to the world which I and a few other could see, this was, standing in a magick tower in a painting, or where ever we were.

Alistair was listening to the door with an empty upturned glass now.

"Where does the light come from?"

"What?" 

Alistair put down the glass and turned to me and really looked at me. He pursed his lips and paused.

"You won't like the answer."

I blinked at him and he continued.

"Wigan."

"What?"

I said it quietly because I didn't understand. Alistair turned away and continued as a deep sigh.

"I am busy you know. The light comes from Wigan. I only take, what about 50% of it."

I have no idea why steal half the light from a cold northern town incensed me but it did. I lost it.

"You can't take the light from Wigan!"

"Why ever not their not using it."

"Because it is wrong!"

"Yes, but is does make the place so much more comfortable."

I was taken aback. My mouth flapped open and shut. I couldn't really think of anything else to say.

"Are we done?"

He tilted his head and was slightly amused and oddly proud way that left me untrusting of what might come out of my mouth so I clamped it firmly shut. He raised and eyebrow and returned to tapping the door unruffled and seemingly amused.

Slightly guiltily I gazed around the room the trees were elegant and green and would not have been out of place at a botanical gardens. The deep beds of lush plants and exotic flowers filled the air with perfumes and butterflies. It was exquisite. 

"Ah ha!"

Alistair triumphant exclamation caught my attention. He turned the handle and with flourish opened the door.

Outside was nothing but a shimmering murky frozen waterfall.

"Shall we see where we are?"

I looked at the murk dubiously. This strange man in a dark suit took my hand again and I felt safer and he lead me through. We emerged from an old mirror half submerged in rubbish in an urban setting. Alistair, ever careful of his suit wrinkled his nose at the interesting urban aromas. I was back in the "real" world and I was flooded with relief and a torrent of problems.

"Oh, we're home then." I said to no-one in particular.

I was indeed back in my city, which I had never mentioned to Alistair.

"Did you know my father well?"

"God no, of him but no."

He was able to fill the sentence with humor and disgust in equal measure. We walked under a railway bridge and Alistair tucked away his wand which had been out and pointed like a weapon until that point. He turned and began to study the graffiti scrawl. I stood there wondering about my handbag, and my car.

"What time is it?"

"About 2.30pm."

  Time had passed in the tower, but it was much slower. I took a deep breath and turned and began my walk home. I tucked my head down and walked away from Alistair even though I could hear him talking. It began to drizzle and I barely took my eyes from the oil soaked puddles. I walked for about half an hour trying to make sense of all I had seen and heard. From the funeral and the men attacking me (or was it Alistair). I was almost home when Alistair pulled up along side me in the back of expensive silver car. He rolled down the window as the car crawled along side me.

"Amelia get in the car! Amelia, your getting soaked through! Come now!"

This kind of one sided conversation continued until I reached my tiny terrace house and I realised I didn't have my keys. Where I live it is not a good idea to keep a spare key under a brick. Alistair got out of his car (or was it someone else's) with a large black umbrella. In fairness his suit and car made him look like my social worker or my pimp as they were the only people to drive high end cars down our street.

I stared at my door. Then started to go to the alley between my house and my neighbors when Alistair stopped me with a cough.

"Just use your wand Amelia."

"Yes, because that worked out so well before."

I loaded my words with cold anger and sarcasm. Softly like silk and velvet Alistair voice began.

"Well saving our lives certainly warrants admiration, and while it was a little difficult. We are alive and safe and well. This is your life now Amelia."

I slide out the wand from my sleeve and tried to think of exactly what I wanted, to hold it in my mind and condense those thoughts into simple words. I gathered my will. 

"Open sesame."

The door clicked open and opened smoothly.

It was odd to see Alistair in my living room. Drinking tea. Like a person. Yet there he was complimenting me on my Dar Jeeling. I picked up my spare key from my half eaten fruit bowl from the cluttered kitchen counter. I grabbed my folder (P.T.A meetings always involve notes). Whether as an instinct or something else I slide my wand up my sleeve and as it was really raining now I got into Alistair's car (with a driver with cap and all). I didn't give any directions but the car slide slowly to a stopped outside the school I tried not to notice the drivers glowing red eyes.

"Amelia, I have some inquires to make, but I'll be in touch."

All the questions still sitting limply on my tongue and he dismissed me with a smile and a wave.

The P.T.A meeting had been cancelled at the last minute so I went to pick up my daughter.