Witching Games: The Fire Witch Chronicles 1, R.A. Lindo [top 100 books of all time checklist .txt] 📗

“Yeah, the only one I’m going to get.”

“Did Zoe say that?”

“She didn’t have to …”

Conrad looks over to us, gesturing for help which I leave to Lucy, sensing she needs some alone time with Noah now.

“He looks a bit a crushed,” I say as Conrad reaches me.

“He is. He really likes her.”

“I know.”

“Making it harder for Lucy who really likes him.”

“If only he could see that.”

“He’s sort of lost in the idea of Zoe, I think,” Conrad adds, keeping a watchful eye over Noah who offers a sad smile as Lucy perches alongside him. “He’ll need time to realise that the idea and the reality don’t match. Zoe’s cold … not cruel but removed … definitely not what Noah needs.”

It’s rare for Conrad to comment negatively on others. Having lost both parents, he always looks for the positive in relationships, acutely aware of how quickly they can expire. He’s right, though, Zoe has a detached quality, making her a perfect barmaid but not girlfriend material — at least not for Noah who needs to feel wanted.

Like my brother Jacob, Noah didn’t have the best start in the S.P.M.A. and has had to work to prove himself, most importantly to his dad who’s got his own superiority complex. It’s possible Zoe reminds Noah of his dad, subconsciously at least, which is something he’ll hopefully work through in time.

The glimmer of light is the first sign of a closer bond between Lucy and Noah … each of them placing their penchants on the bridge, decorating it in their combined colours. I watch as a vision of yellow and green illuminate the bridge, lighting up the quiet streets of The Winter Quarter.

The bridge shimmers in the way Noah hoped it would with Zoe, but instead he’s got the love of the friend to complete his date: a friend who suggests stronger feelings through gestures rather than words. There’s no doubt letting your guard down is scary — I’ll be the first to admit that — so I stand with Conrad, smiling as Lucy finally gets a laugh out of Noah, hoping they’ll give each other a chance of love one day.

The glittering colour decorating the bridge doesn’t extend to the water: a sign they’ll only ever be friends or that Noah’s love for Zoe hasn’t yet ignited. Time will tell, either way. The final touch of colour appears in the sky: a vision of red arriving with healing powers only a Williynx can offer. Noah looks up in surprise at the sight of his fire-red companion descending from the night sky, arriving to offer reassurance and comfort.

“We’re lucky,” I say, leaning into Conrad for a hug. “Lucky to have all this.”

“Amazingly lucky,” Conrad adds, “and I’m lucky to have you.”

“I know,” I reply with a flirtatious smile, getting the expected laugh from Conrad. “Let’s end the night with a race — get Noah’s blood boiling in a different way.”

Conrad laughs again, placing an arm around my waist as he calls over to Noah and Lucy. “Last one back to Founders’ Quad has to check on Odin in The Velynx.”

That gets everyone moving — The Velynx located at the end of Quibbs Causeway where the Mantzils live: a place we can all navigate but never choose to. I mean, who wants a splitting headache for a week?

Conrad’s already in the air, dipping down to glide over the water, the claws of his Williynx touching the water. “Come on lover boy!” Conrad calls out to Noah, pleased his friend has snapped out of his moment of self-pity. “Night Rangers don’t rest! Unless you’ve missed the Mantzils, that is.”

That’s enough to kick Noah into action, following close behind Lucy as the four us form a line, gliding across the water running under The Sinking Bridge that glimmers in the evening light. I let out a yelp of laughter as Laieya joins in the fun, spinning me three times as she rises higher, trying to get ahead of Conrad who responds by going under water on Erivan, reappearing way ahead of us.

“Cheating!” Noah calls out, his purple suit jacket whipping in the wind, soft flakes of snow falling over his hair and clothes.

The old Noah’s back now, singing whilst patting his fire-red companion into furious flight: a friend appreciating another form of love.

A few weeks pass until we reach the day mum mentioned on my last visit: Jacob’s birthday. I promised I’d be there and Jacob’s reminded me of it loads of times. My brother’s been there more for me more than anyone else in my life, so I’m not going to miss his birthday although how it’s going to play out at mum’s is another question.

It’s Jacob’s idea to have his birthday party at mum’s — a chance to rebuild a bond that I still think is permanently broken. I’m less forgiving than my brother, believing some sins are unforgivable. Either way, today’s not about me so I collect the present and card from my bed, preparing to meet Conrad on the ground floor of The Cendryll.

Thoughts on family always send me into a bit of a spin, so I’ve spent the morning on the fourth floor, preparing myself for a return to the twisted building on the margins of Society Square. Returning there always makes me think of Isiah Renn and the sacrifices he made for the Society, including leaving his house to mum — not something she necessarily deserves.

The expected sound comes from my bedside table, my Scribberal signalling new communication. A Scribberal is the main communication device in the Society: a silver container you receive notes and letters in. It’s a secure way of keeping things in house, meaning no above-ground trickery can access any communication travelling within our secret world.

I lift the lid of the Scribberal to see the note from Jacob. We’re waiting by The Seating Station the note reads. It’s Jacob’s way of saying ‘hurry up’ so I check my