She smirked. “Shag and go, is that it?”
“What, no, of course not. I just…”
She motioned to the door. “Just go.”
“I’ll call you later.”
“You’d better.”
Jude put his clothes on rapidly, fled the bedroom, ran down the stairs, and rushed out of the front door. He broke into a run that didn’t stop until he reached the playground, where he collapsed against the railings before guiding himself unsteadily to the bench. There, he sat and tried to catch his breath. Ashley was a killer, and the worst part was that she didn’t even seem to care. In fact, she had enjoyed watching her father die at her feet.
We made love. She made love to me.
I can reach her. I can get her to take off the locket.
No, she will never agree to it. The power, it’s inside her now, corrupting her. She’ll never let it go. She won’t stop. People around her are going to get hurt.
“Hey, Jude. You okay?”
Jude flinched. Ricky Dalca was walking towards him, his hand covered in bandages and a nasty bruise around his left eye. He actually smiled and called Jude by his actual name instead of calling him Judy, which was unnerving.
“Ricky? Um, what’s up?”
He shrugged and took a seat on the bench beside Jude. “Nuffin’ much. I’m actually looking forward to school. My last year before I have to get a job. Might as well enjoy it, aye?”
“Yeah. Have you heard anything about, um…?”
Ricky shook his head. “Lily’s family has been knocking around, asking questions, but so far they haven’t got any answers.” He motioned to his bruised eye socket. “This was their work. I reckon the twins know I had something to do with Lily disappearing, but they haven’t said anything yet. If they do, then I’m probably a dead man. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see what happens.” He leant forward, elbows on his knees. His bandages seemed small, like his hand was still withered and crippled beneath. “My head’s a mess, man. Did all that shit really go down?”
Jude’s mind rewound and started playing every tiny event from the moment he and Ashley had gone to spit on cars from the overpass. It seemed like a lifetime ago now. He nodded. “Yeah, it went down, but it’s over now. More or less. It’s just something we’re going to have to live with. Maybe that’s what growing up is.”
Ricky chuckled, but it was a sad sound. “Trying to cover up dodgy shit so you don’t go to prison or end up in a shallow grave? Sounds like growing up is going to fucking suck. Hey, where’s Ashley? You two not joined at the hip today?”
Jude felt tears coming and had to fight them. “I think it’s time I find out who I am without her. I miss her already, but I’m kind of looking forward to a future where everything’s different. She and I used to have this saying, one down, two down. It meant we always had each other’s back. I have a new saying now.”
Ricky raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Yeah. One day, two day. Because that’s how I’m going to take things from now on. One day at a time.”
“Sounds like a good plan, mate. Maybe I’ll follow it myself.” He let out a sigh, like his good mood had taken energy he no longer had. He lifted his bandaged hand so that Jude could see it. “She did this to me, didn’t she? I’m not sure how, but it was her, right?”
Jude wasn’t sure what to say for a moment. He decided on the truth. “Yeah, she did that to you. Ashley’s dangerous.”
“Yeah, I get that. Think you’re best off keeping your distance.” He straightened up on the bench and sighed. “I’m sorry for being a dick to you all these years, man. You wanna be mates?”
Jude turned and nodded. “Yeah, I’d like that, Ricky. Hey, do you like magic?”
“Nah, man. I fucking hate it.”
“Me too.” Jude stood up from the bench and looked at his new friend. “I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”
Ricky smiled weakly. “I’ll probably be late, but yeah, I’ll see you there. Think I might even try and learn something this year. One day, two day, right?”
Jude smiled. “One day, two day.”
Jude said goodbye again, and then walked home alone, wondering how much more magic was in the world.
And if it was all evil.
The trusted mage has lost his princess to the darkness, but he is ready for whatever comes next. It is time for a new adventure and the world needs heroes.
Jude managed a smile.
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Plea From the Author
Hey, Reader. So you got to the end of my book. I hope that means you enjoyed it. Whether or not you did, I would just like to thank you for giving me your valuable time to try and entertain you. I am truly blessed to have such a fulfilling job, but I only have that job because of people like you; people kind enough to give my books a chance and spend their hard-earned money buying them. For that I am eternally grateful.
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