Spellfall by Katherine Roberts Page A

afraid of getting into trouble.”
    Merlin led the way, occasionally glancing back at the girl. She might sound scornful but she didn’t look at all well. She was very pale and her hands trembled. She had to use the banister to pull herself up the stairs.
    “Are you sure you’re not bonded?” he asked suspiciously, opening the door of one of the second floor bedrooms.
    She sighed. “Of course I’m sure. Even if there was such a thing as real magic, I’d know something like that, wouldn’t I? Turn around and don’t peek.”
    Merlin turned his back and chewed his lip. “Not necessarily. Not until you defied Father and he wanted to punish you, you wouldn’t.”
    Natalie dressed so quickly, before he knew it, she’d pushed past him, stumbled downstairs and was wrestling with the front door. Since the spellclave were all outside it was unbolted but still it didn’t budge. “Father locked it before he replaced the illusion spell,” he explained. He often wondered why Hawk bothered with keys, since the spells were designed to keep curious strangers from seeing the truth, but now he was glad of the delay. “You’re serious about running away, aren’t you?”
    She turned, closed her eyes for a few seconds then opened them again. “Where’s the key?”
    Merlin hesitated. She certainly wasn’t acting as if she were bonded but she could be testing him. “Father’s got it.” He considered her carefully. “I know where there’s a spare, though. I’ll unlock the door and show you the quickest way out of the wood, if you’ll help me get Redeye out of the cellar.” He held his breath.
    Natalie stared at him. He couldn’t read her expression but several different emotions crossed her face. Finally, she said, “All right,” and looked at him expectantly.
    He fingered the spell and licked his lips. “The cellar’s locked too,” he admitted. “But if there’s another key anywhere, Father keeps it well hidden. He probably used an illusion spell on it.”
    “I haven’t time to help you look for it, if that’s what you mean. We’ll just have to leave your mouse and come back for him later when we bring the police up here. He’ll be safe enough. I doubt your father will do anything to him if you’re not around to see.”
    Merlin turned queasy at the very thought. “No! You don’t understand! I can’t go without Redeye.”
    “Merlin!” She grabbed his jumper and shook hard, showing the same fierce strength as when she’d snatched the tray. He cringed, but she took a deep breath and continued more reasonably. “Look, I know you’re fond of your mouse. I was fond enough of Itsy and he was just some spider I found in the bath. But you have to get things into perspective. If we don’t get out of here soon, your father’s going to come back and catch us both. Then we will be in trouble. Accept it, there’s no way you’re going to get a mouse out through a locked door.”
    Merlin shrivelled inside. “Don’t. That’s not fair. I know I’m hopeless at spell casting, but I thought you might help.”
    She let him go, scowling. “Not that again! I told you, I’m not a witch.”
    “And I told you we’re not witches, we’re—”
    “Spellmages! So you keep saying.”
    They stared at each other, both of them trembling.
    “Call us Casters,” Merlin said with a sigh. “Everyone else does.”
    She didn’t laugh but she looked less angry. Hesitantly, he brought out the spell he’d taken from the keyhole. Her gaze flickered to his hand. She said nothing.
    “At least let me try?” he said. “I think I managed to transport your spider when you were touching the spell in the supermarket. While you were being… er… bonded, I managed to smuggle a spell into Redeye’s bedding. That’s how you do a transport, see? You put a spell at each end. I thought if there was one inside Redeye’s cage and I got a powerful one this side of the door, then it might work – especially if you help me, like you did