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‘Are you sure you’re not taking something?’ Ruby asked the next day while they were standing in front of their lockers. ’Cos if not, you’re doing a really good impression of someone who’s high.’
‘No, honestly, I’m just—’
But Ruby was already walking away, shaking her head.
‘—happy. That’s all.’ Merry sighed. But right now, even the Ruby problem didn’t seem insurmountable. At least Ruby hadn’t told Mum where Merry really was last night. She grinned to herself and went to her next class.
Maybe, Merry reflected later, she should have thought about what Ruby said, and toned it down a bit.
After school, the evening turned out to be unusually pleasant. Merry didn’t have to go to the lake and Gran had a coven meeting, so there was no training. That meant Merry could fit in a drop-in session at the fencing club. Thinking positively, at least the increased ability to defend herself would be handy, given the still-sporadic success of her spell casting. Best of all, Mum appeared to have swallowed the line Leo had spun her about a mistake: Merry was never meant to have been at Ruby’s yesterday – he himself had dropped her off at another friend’s house – Mum had just got confused. The other friend he named was the daughter of the local vicar; a piece of genius, since Mum had fallen out with the family years ago, and would never pick up the phone to check Leo’s story. For once, dinner was quite lively: Mum made Merry laugh by describing a couple of recent near disasters at work, and only Leo seemed a bit subdued.
Later, Merry was lying on her bed, half-heartedly reading one of her English set books, when Leo started texting her.
What happened last night?
What? Why you texting me?
In case mum’s listening.
What happened after I left?
Merry hesitated. There was absolutely no way she was going to tell Leo about her and Jack.
Nothing happened.
We talked. Sent him back to lake. You turned up.
Same as always.
There was a pause. Then Leo texted back:
Liar.
I know something happened.
When I got in from work, you were humming.
Why are you happy?
Merry frowned.
Why shouldn’t I be happy?
She hit send, then realised what she’d done.
Not happy. Just pretending for mum.
Like you said.
Yeah right. I’m coming in.
Leo pushed the door open a few moments later. He put his finger to his lips – Merry saw he still had his phone in his hand – and sat down next to her on the bed.
I’m not stupid. You were dancing round kitchen!
He mimed her dancing, flapping his arms around. Merry scowled.
Point is …
Leo hunched his shoulders over, blushed.
Did you and Jack …???
Merry threw her hands in the air.
Did we what???
She raised her eyebrows, but Leo just looked even more flustered. He tapped his forefinger on the edge of the phone for a few seconds, staring at her.
I don’t want you to get hurt.
Remember plan is to kill him. Probably.
You can’t fall in love.
Merry shook her head.
I know what I’m doing.
Stop killing my buzz.
Leo rolled his eyes and stood up.
Whatever. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
He left her room without looking back.
Merry sighed and turned off her phone. Leo was so ridiculously uptight sometimes. What was the point in having a cool, older brother if he was going to act like a Victorian father? Coming into her room, making her feel guilty …
But she wasn’t going to feel guilty – why shouldn’t she have some fun? Besides, the stupid manuscript might be wrong, or they might be … misinterpreting it. Maybe she could find a way around it, and they wouldn’t have to kill Jack after all. Maybe she could save him. Maybe.
* * *
There was no opportunity for fun on the next two trips to the lake. Instead of being able to talk to Jack, Merry spent most of the time trying to manipulate the water, determined to force it aside so she could simply walk to the bottom of the lake. She was getting better at it. But the magic was mentally exhausting, and she just wasn’t improving quickly enough, given the manuscript’s constant demand that she should follow Jack under the lake. The furthest she got was maybe a metre into the water, before it rushed back over her feet, soaking her. Plus, she had no idea exactly where on the lake bed the entrance to Gwydion’s lair might be, or whether it would even be visible. Whenever she took a break, it was just awkward. Leo stuck to her like glue. He wasn’t horrible, or anything; he was just as pleasant to Jack, just as chatty. But he made sure he sat between Jack and Merry the whole time. All she and Jack could do was exchange glances and smile at each other when Leo wasn’t looking.
At least Merry’s training sessions were going better. She didn’t know whether it was her good mood, her new resolve to fight Gwydion and (if she could) save Jack, or just that something in her brain had finally clicked. But for whatever reason, the spells Gran had been struggling to teach her no longer seemed quite so difficult – even though she was carefully sticking to the official, coven-approved method of doing magic. One afternoon everything went so well that Merry decided to try to recreate what she’d done for Leo. They’d gone for a run at the local gym together – the endless rain (and hail, and sleet) meant that the footpaths Merry used to use were now impassable. As Merry finished her five miles, Leo was standing, leaning on the next treadmill along, gasping.
‘You are so unfit.’ Merry rubbed a towel over the back of her neck.
Leo just glared at her.
‘I s’pose at least you eat fairly healthily. Fancy an apple?’
‘Huh?’ Leo raised his eyebrows. ‘I guess, but—’
‘Here you go.’ Merry reached into her bag and pulled out an apple. A small, withered apple, with a spot of mould on one side.
‘Grim. I’m not eating that.’ Leo backed away.
‘No? OK then.’ Merry looked around to make sure they were still alone. ‘What about this?’ She held the apple out, repeated the words Gran had drummed into her – Gaelic words, she thought, but she had no idea what they meant – and waited.
Like one of those accelerated nature films in reverse, the fruit began to rejuvenate. The mould disappeared, the wrinkled skin grew smooth and plump again, and within two minutes Merry was holding a glossy, red apple. She offered it to Leo.
‘Fancy a bite?’
Leo tapped the apple with his fore finger.
‘What the – that is just – it’s amazing, I can’t—’ He picked the apple up, smelt it, opened his mouth and— ‘Is it poisoned?’
‘What?’ Merry shook her head. ‘No, of course not. Why would it be poisoned?’
‘Well, apples in fairy tales … you might have turned into the wicked queen.’
Merry laughed. ‘I think that would make you Snow White. Too bad I’m fresh out of magic corsets. But you do see what this means, don’t you?’
Leo crinkled his forehead.
‘Er …’
‘The spells must be working better because I’m happy, Leo. And I’m happy because … because I got to spend a bit of time with Jack. On my own.’ She felt the blood rush into her cheeks and looked away. ‘I admit it. We … had fun together, the other evening. So maybe—’
‘Oh, no. I see where this is going.’ Leo gave the apple back to her. ‘I’m sorry, Merry, but it’s too dangerous.’
‘But Leo …’
‘You’re not spending any more time on your own with Jack.’ Leo put a hand on her shoulder. ‘Trust me, it’s for the best.’
But the day after next fate intervened, in the shape of Leo’s best friend, Dan. Dan had turned eighteen about seven months ago, but he was only now having a party – a joint twenty-first with his elder brother. Their parents were really pushing the boat out; hiring a local hall, a band, caterers, the works. Leo had said yes to the invitation ages ago. Still, when he realised, on the afternoon of the party, that Merry was going to have to go to the lake without him, he nearly changed his mind.
‘I’m just not comfortable with this, Merry. Perhaps I should stay. Or – or maybe we could go to the lake first, then if the King of Hearts turns up quickly I could get to the party later. Or—’
‘Leo, relax. You can’t miss any of the party – Dan will be really upset. Besides, it’s going to be fine. I’m probably just going to keep working on the magic I’m trying to do with the lake. Jack can watch a film on my laptop, or something. And I’ve got so much studying to do …’
Leo hesitated, but he didn’t want to let Dan down. So now Merry was standing in the car park by the woods, and Leo was about to drive away. He lowered the car window.
‘I’m really not happy about this.’
‘I know. But it’s only for this one time.’
‘Huh. Will you promise me you’re not going to do anything stupid?’
Merry sighed. ‘Leo, you’re not my dad. I know how to look after myself.’ She pointed at her chest. ‘Witch, remember?’
‘Yeah. Trainee witch, prone to random magical … outbursts—’
‘It’s been over a week—’
‘—dealing with something completely out of her league.’
‘Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.’ Merry turned and began to walk into the woods, but Leo called after her.
‘I’m just trying to take care of you. So do me a favour, and remember what Jack sometimes is. You’re not on a date.’
‘I know. I know.’
‘Really? Did you look at yourself before you left the house?’
And with that Leo drove off, churning up the gravel as he accelerated away.
* * *
So, he was angry, Merry thought to herself as she made her way down towards the lake. But he was also being completely unreasonable. She’d dressed exactly the same as she always did for these outings. Hat and scarf. Heavy jacket. Jeans and a jumper.
Well, her new skinny jeans instead of the old ripped pair. And a new, fine-knit V-necked sweater instead of the comfortable baggy one she generally selected. But still.
So maybe she was wearing a bit more make-up than she usually did. And some scent. But that didn’t mean –
Damn. The butterflies in her stomach, that unmistakable mix of nervousness and anticipation – clearly, some part of her brain had decided she was going on a date.
Merry pulled her phone out of her pocket – wondered whether she would have enough time to get Leo to take her back home so she could change – shoved the phone away again.
She knew what seemed to be happening between her and Jack couldn’t last. But where would be the harm in pretending, just for a little while?
She might be dead before the autumn.
One more evening. Was that too much to ask?
(#ulink_342be379-d7fb-58b6-aefe-786575d8776f)
At the lakeside, Merry spread the picnic rug on the grass and sat down to wait, huddling close to the portable heater. In theory, it was spring. There should have been drifts of bluebells in the woods, almost ready to flower, the vivid green of new leaves on the beech trees. The evening air should have been warmer.
But instead, it still felt like winter: damp, cold, dead. Puddles left behind by the endless rain were now thickly glazed with ice. The bizarre weather was gradually spreading north and west, affecting more of the country. The forecasters were talking about the jet stream and the Gulf stream and cold air being sucked down from Siberia; Merry wondered what they would say if she told them it was all due to a dark wizard, trapped under a lake in Surrey.
She got out one of her history books and a torch. Her exams were a little over two months away now; if she was still alive at that point (and maybe she would be, just maybe) then she wanted to do better than last summer. And by herself this time, without relying on magic. She managed to ignore the fluttering, fizzing feeling in her stomach, and got about halfway through a chapter on the European Reformation before the water formed a vortex and Jack stepped out on to the grass.
Merry spoke the words of command: he crumpled to the floor. She carried on reading – glancing at him occasionally, studying the length of his eyelashes and the curve of his lips – until he woke up.
‘Hey.’ She shut the book. ‘How are you feeling tonight?’
