The Accidental Invitation (The Chronicles of the Accidental Witch Book 2) Read online

  It seems bizarre to me that this whole murder spree the rebels have been on is because of Zeta. Why? Who really killed the vampires, shifters and fairies? And why?

  Why can’t people just get along?

  Another photo catches my eye. This is Zeta with a man – I bet he’s the vampire. He’s not handsome at all. They look like a right mismatched pair. No wonder she preferred to kiss him when he was a bat. I touch Fletcher’s arm and pass it over.

  His sharp intake of breath tells me that he knows this chap.

  “Who is he?”

  “My dad’s best friend.”

  “Is he a witch?”

  “No, he’s a vampire. They met in college.”

  “Do you think he’s the bat from my vision? The bat in this other picture?”

  He shrugs. “I have no idea. His name’s John.”

  “Shall we call your mum?”

  “Not yet – see if there are any other pictures of him, any letters, or cards, anything about John.”

  “When did you last see him?”

  “The night before my dad was murdered.”

  “The night before? He didn’t come to the funeral or...?”

  I trail off. I’m reminding him of his dad again. I’m definitely girlfriend material, I tell you. Quite a catch.

  I grab another box and don’t find anything interesting in there. John might not be the bat from my vision anyway. Is it likely that Fletcher’s dad was betrayed by his best friend? We still have no idea who actually carried out the other murders. Too many questions, not enough answers, and I am fed up.

  When I first realised I’d been turned into a witch, I must admit I was expecting more fun than this.

  I had Sabrina the teenage witch in my mind, of course, not just the new series but the old one, my mum watched it when she was a kid and made me watch it on Netflix. Or maybe Charmed. And then I had visions of flying around – on a broomstick. Okay, so my witch references might all be influenced by TV and Harry Potter, but I did not imagine being almost murdered – or finding out that there were other creatures and they were being murdered. And really, there’s far too much murder in this witch life for my liking.

  I wanted spells and potions and dusty old books. I wanted a pointy hat, a cat, a broomstick. I wanted to learn a ‘fall in love with me’ spell, or a lucky charm.

  I am not loving this.

  But I am getting to spend time with Fletcher – and that I do love. He’s so handsome I could cry.

  Really?

  I shake my head and continue searching for clues about murderers.

  We don’t find anything useful and then Griff pokes his head around the door. I don’t find him so overbearing or grizzly anymore. “Anything?”

  “A couple of photos – Zeta with a bat and then with John, dad’s friend.”

  “I know John.” He takes the photographs off Fletcher. “Elodie! We haven’t seen him since...well, before your dad died probably.”

  Elodie comes into the room, a look of hopeful expectation on her face. I am so scared and upset by this whole ordeal, but I recognise that I’m removed too. Fletcher, his mum, his cousins and his auntie. Griff. Sally even – this means so much more to them; the betrayal is life changing, even without the danger, death and destruction. “Anything?”

  Griff hands her the photographs and she smiles. “Gosh, John – we haven’t seen him since...”

  “Since before dad died. Mum, do you think he’s the vampire that was helping Zeta?”

  Elodie shrugs and tears fill her eyes. She sinks to the floor and I want to cry for her. My mum would fall apart if this was happening to her. “I don’t know. Why would Zeta and John want to implicate the witches in something so awful, knowing it would start a war? And who killed all the other creatures? There’s no way the two of them have been on a murderous rampage around Britain. No way.”

  “And where is he?”

  “And why did he disappear from our lives. It’s pretty suspicious.”

  I look at the confusion on all of their faces and my heart goes out to them. I can feel all of their sadness, anger, upset, as well as my own. Their fear is mine. Their pain is mine. Their betrayal is mine. Is this because I’m the head witch or just because I’m a sympathetic kinda girl? I have no idea, but I feel like someone is sitting on my chest. I cannot breathe and I cannot speak, and the crushing feeling is growing. I reach out a hand to Fletcher – I need him to help me and then just as quickly it’s gone.

  I take a deep enough breath that they all turn to look at me. I smile. “Sorry.”

  “It’s fine dear. I’m still just so sorry that you’re caught up in this.”

  “Blame Macaroon,” I say, smiling. I don’t want her to feel bad; it’s definitely not her fault. And if it wasn’t for stupid old Zeta and her bat friend, it would have been pretty awesome to be a witch.

  “Macaroon?”

  “The dog, mum.”

  “Oh right. What a cute name.”

  We are all silent again. We’re at a dead end. There must be something witchy I can do. “If Zeta was a witch and this bat guy, John – or someone else – was helping her, then won’t I be able to do something? Find out something? Because of my head witchness? Like I could see Griff murdering people, and Ember?”

  And Sally snogging Fletcher’s face off?

  There must be some benefits to this weird gift of mine. I know I can’t rein it in, and I certainly can’t figure it out by myself; not like Fletcher would have been able to. But I am a witch now, and all the power, knowledge, magic, blah, blah, blah is apparently in me. If I can see Griff kill people by drowning them in ice cream, maybe I can figure out what Zeta was up to.

  Wily old devil.

  Elodie looks happy for the first time in a long time and she grabs a hold of my hand. “Of course! Oh, Ellis, you’re so clever. You’re the head witch! What’s happened with you so far has been haphazard and random – but we can lead you. Like Fletcher taught you how to leave your body to find me when you needed help. Griff and I can help you.”

  Fletcher claps me on the back, causing me to cough. He apologises and I laugh. It’s not the most romantic method of appreciation – I’d have preferred a kiss to an enthusiastic back slap, but I know he’s just excited. I know how sick this whole thing has made him. How everything has changed for him since he realised his father was murdered.

  I know how I felt when my parents were attacked by the rebels, and nothing even happened to them in the end. I can’t imagine what he’s going through and if this helps, if anything I can do helps, then I’ll do it. A hundred times over.

  “I think we should go back to our house. It’s safer. Let me ring Ember and tell her what we’re doing, so she knows.”

  “I take it you two didn’t find anything downstairs?”

  Elodie and Griff shake their heads, but I see a look between them that Fletcher doesn’t catch and I’m not sure they’re telling us the whole truth. I say nothing – what can I say – but file it away. Just in case.

  Griff heads back downstairs with Elodie, and Fletcher and I stand together, suddenly awkward. “I’m sorry I was weird with you last night,” I feel like I need to explain.

  He shakes his head. “Don’t worry. I know you saw me kissing Sally, but it was just a day, it was just for fun. I didn’t-” He takes a breath and I can see him blushing – only faintly. “I didn’t feel anything for Sally. She was just a friend and it was just a fun day.”

  Okay, okay, don’t keep on!

  “But I’m feeling feelings for you, Ellis. I...” He trails off and I let him. I step towards him and slip my arms around him, almost as though we’re about to fly. I lean in and press my lips to his. A soft, sweet and very gentle kiss.

  4

  Elodie calls up to them and they break apart, both grinning at each other, before kissing one more time. Like a full stop. Or a comma, as they both intend to kiss again as often as they can.

  They head downstairs hand in hand and outside Flet
cher takes Ellis in his arms, ready to fly home. They fit perfectly together.

  “Ready?”

  She nods and they take off and the time to separate comes too quickly.

  Elodie ushers them inside, still nervous with the trio of rebels on the loose. She quickly makes them food and pep, before they sit together, the four of them.

  “So, she’s your girlfriend now, eh?” Griff says, taking a huge bite of his sandwich and laughing. Ellis blushes but Fletcher nods. “She is, Griff. She is. Now if we can figure out this mystery and maybe end the war, we could go on a date like normal teenagers.”

  Elodie laughs. “You’ve never been a normal teenager, and Ellis might never be one again. She’ll still be a witch – head witch – once this is all over, so whatever happens next, you won’t be normal ever again either of you.”

  “Well, we’ll just be abnormal together. But on a date.”

  “So, once we’ve eaten, we’ll see what we can do. Griff had some good ideas, but I think we’ll try the most simple first – a guided discovery spell. They can be effective. The trouble is we don’t know how much you know, or how the knowledge etc, is given to you. It’s something head witches don’t talk about – and head witches are always witches already so they have an innate idea of witchery, while you don’t. We also don’t really know what we want to know. So, we have figured out some basic questions. It’s not hard or dangerous but it can be draining, especially as you’re so new to magic.”

  “What did Ember call me? Freshly hatched?”

  “Exactly. It’s not often we have freshly hatched teenage witches.”

  “I’m nervous.”

  Fletcher takes her hand. “You’re bound to be, but I’ll be right next to you. you’ll be safe. Are you ready?”

  She nods.

  They go to the front lounge and Elodie draws the curtains. Griff lights a flame in his palm, and Ellis stares, fascinated.

  “You sit, Ellis, make sure you’re comfy.”

  Ellis sits in the chair, and Fletcher sits next to her on the sofa. Elodie kneels in front of her on the floor. “I’m too low, grab me that stool, Fletcher.”

  She tries again and nods. Griff hovers with the light. “Fletcher can you record it on your phone? Just the sound is fine.”

  He pulls out his phone and nods.

  Elodie takes charge.

  “Ellis. Close your eyes. Relax. Breathe. You are the head witch. You have the power. The knowledge. The magic. Can you hear me?”

  “Yes.” Ellis doesn’t sound like herself; her tone is flat.

  “Imagine Zeta – see her in your mind’s eye. See her at the cottage, see her smiling, see her eyes. Can you see them?”

  “Yes.”

  Elodie takes her voice lower, and slower. “Look around the room. Look down – can you see your hands, your feet, your body?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re in the room with her now. But it’s not the first time you met her, it’s not just before she died, it’s before that. It’s a few weeks before that, maybe a few months. Go closer to her, she can’t see you or hear you. Go right in front of her face. Are you there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Breathe with her. In and out, in and out. Look into her eyes, and then lean in, look right into her eyes and lean in, go into her eyes, inside her eyes, into her mind. Are you there?”

  “Yes.”

  “How do you know?”

  “It’s dark. I’m not in the room anymore. It’s weird.”

  With a start and big sigh Ellis is back in the room with them. Elodie pats her leg. “You did so, so well. It is weird, and that’s okay. We’ll try again – you did it so quickly and so easily. Once you’re in there, just close your eyes and let her thoughts, feelings, emotions come to you. I’ll ask questions and we’ll see what happens. Don’t panic – you won’t get stuck in there and she won’t know you’re there. She’s dead, remember?”

  Ellis nods and closes her eyes.

  Elodie starts again. She talks her through the process until Ellis is back inside Zeta’s head.

  “Just stay calm. Breathe. Is the bat in the photograph John? Adam’s friend John?”

  Ellis is quiet for a moment and then she nods. “Yes.”

  “Is John alive?”

  “Yes. Undead.”

  Elodie nods.

  “Did Zeta and John kill the creatures and put their hearts in boxes?” Elodie knows they did from Ellis’s memory, but she wants to be sure – there’s always a chance – small – that the vision was malicious, given to Ellis by one of the supernatural creatures to confuse her or throw them off.

  “Yes.”

  “Did they want to hurt the witches? Get them murdered.”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “Revenge.” Her voice changes: “They always hated me, those witches. Me, the crone? I should have the highest place in their regard. The best seat at the table. The only seat at the table. Crones have always been revered, always. Until me. The only abandoned crone.”

  “Who killed the other creatures? Who was murdering them?”

  “Not me. I could have killed everyone on this planet with the magic inside me, but I never would.”

  “You didn’t kill any of the creatures? The vampires, shifters, fairies?”

  “I did no such thing. People love to think bad of me.”

  “Do you know who did?”

  “Of course. Nobody else could have thought up such a deliciously despicable plan. It came from me. Not even John was bold enough to think of it, only me.”

  “Who killed them?”

  The voice changes back, from Zeta’s to Ellis’s again. “I don’t know. I can’t see. I can see shadows, images, but nothing, nobody real.” She shakes her head and she’s back in the room with them. Fletcher squeezes her shoulder. “Well done. So we know for sure it was Zeta who killed the creatures and took their hearts, and we know she ordered the other murders, we just don’t know who did them.”

  They feel better. They know more than they did. And now they can decide what to do next.

  Suddenly Ellis freezes and her eyes roll back. She begins to speak, in Zeta’s voice once again. “John. Are you ready? Of course it’s a good idea. It’s the only idea. Unless you feel like traipsing around the UK killing everybody. Didn’t think so. Now brace yourself. I can do this, even though it’s never been done. If it goes wrong. If something happens. I love you. Ready?”

  As though she has been physically pushed by someone or something, Ellis shoots across the room and hits the wall, before collapsing into a heap on the floor. Fletcher drops down beside her, his face a picture of panic. “Ellis, wake up.” He pushes her hair back off her forehead and takes her hand, looking to his mum to help her, trying to see if her head is bleeding.

  She doesn’t look hurt, she looked like a rag doll as she flew through the air, so maybe that saved her.

  Griff and Elodie look serious but confused. Elodie touches her head, closes her eyes. “She’s okay, Fletcher, she’ll come around in a second.”

  “What happened?”

  “I’m not sure. Maybe she didn’t like what she saw? Maybe there was some magic in Zeta’s mind...” Elodie is thoughtful. “Visions are tricky, Fletcher. We can’t see what Ellis sees when she’s not with us. We have to guess a little bit.”

  “I wonder if Zeta was carrying out a magic spell, or something, and the power pushed Ellis out of the way,” Griff says, shaking his head and scratching his beard, the look of confusion on his face matching the one on Fletcher’s face. “The only way it could have happened, is with some very strong, scary, dark magic.”

  Ellis groans and they all turn to her. She looks white as a sheet and scared. And her dark hair has turned white too.

  Ellis

  “I know who killed the creatures. Zeta and John set it all up. What? Why are you all looking at me like that?”

  Fletcher helps me off the floor, and ooh I’m hurting, but so excited. I’ve solve
d the mystery. I know how Zeta killed all of those creatures. “Ellis, you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “Yes! How did you guess. Well, not a ghost – more of a... what did she call them?” I shake my head, I cannot remember, probably because I was just thrown across the room and I cracked my head. “And it wasn’t just one – it was hordes of them actually, but...how did you know?”

  I’m gutted. I can’t help it – it’s like when you read a stupid joke from a cracker and someone guesses the punchline – its so annoying. Or you buy a bargain and ask someone to guess the price and they get it right. I’m deflated. I cannot lie.

  He smiles at me, and reaches out to touch my hair, and I forgive him. I never knew I was so shallow, but he’s so flipping gorgeous. “Your hair’s turned white.”

  I touch my hair, brushing his hand as I do so and feeling that thrill that I feel every time we connect. “White?”

  “Yes. Your hair’s gone white – all the colours drained from it, because you saw a ghost. You did see a ghost, right?”

  I nod. “But not a ghost,” I tell him, looking down at my hair. My bright white hair. I pull my phone out, I need to see how I look with white hair. I don’t look too bad – but it drains me, so I don’t take a picture.

  “Well, you kinda spoiled my surprise there. Zeta didn’t use the word ghost though; she used the word demon.”

  They all gasp at the same time and I cannot help but smile. “Is a demon different from a ghost then?”

  Fletcher nods, and sits heavily on a chair, running his hands through his hair, then over his face. “Demon, she definitely said demon?”

  I nod. I heard what I heard.

  “Then we’ve got a problem,” Fletcher says as I sit beside him. “If she’s let the demons out, they’ll make the rebel trio look like angels.”

  I shake my head. I know I heard him right, but I know it can’t be right.

  “It’s true,” Elodie says, worry colouring her face. “Demons are more than evil – they are soulless. It’s why they are locked away.”

  “And she’s let them out? Why would she do that?”