our progress in the
case.’
‘When will I be able to join you?’ Laura asked as they stood, pushing their
chairs in.
Mr Stark looked almost amused. ‘My girl, I hardly think this is the type of
search a young and inexperienced child should be involved in!’ he laughed,
retrieving his hat.
Laura’s cheeks warmed, ‘what do you mean? That is my mother out there. I
should be out helping!’ she exclaimed.
‘You are helping by giving us the information we need to find her. I don’t
think your mother would like it if you were off running through the streets,
putting yourself in danger,’ Mr Stark replied, giving no acknowledgement to the
anger in Laura’s face.
Laura wanted to say more but Grace took her hand and patted it, ‘you will be
able to help, we promise,’ she whispered to her, ‘Mr Stark is just doing what
he thinks is right.’
Drew snorted and Grace shot him a look that said ‘shut the hell up!’
‘Well, take care everyone.’ Mr Stark bid them farewell.
Laura forced a smile as did the others.
‘Let me show you out,’ Stella said, leading Mr Stark through the door and
down the hall.
‘Absolutely hate that guy,’ Drew muttered.
Laura
excused herself not long after Mr Stark’s departure, shutting herself in her
room. She needed time alone to think about her dream, the one that seemed to
have sprung to mind so suddenly during her interview with Wilford Stark.
What had it meant? Was it a real memory that had somehow been unlocked?
Laura rolled onto her bed and rested her hands on her stomach, mulling over
the vision from her sleep.
When you remember this my dear, it is time, her mother had said.
It was that line that caused her extensive inner havoc, and that was why she
was even considering the possibility that it may not have been a dream. She desired
the freedom to discuss it with someone, but she couldn’t risk bringing forth
more trouble for her mother. Being able to exercise her power when she, they
assumed, didn’t maintain the mark, was a very dangerous ability to possess.
Laura squeezed her eyes shut in the hopes of blocking out the dream. She
allowed a calmness to settle over her as she pretended she was back on Wimerack
Mountain, her mother was safe, her father alive and the Spirit World non-existent.
She opened her eyes. But it did exist. Even if she were oblivious to
it, it was there and she was still a part of it. There was no escaping it.
Laura sat upright on her bed, reaching for her backpack. She found the map
inside, and unfolded it onto the bedspread. She noticed it’s incredible detail
considerably better this time, as she actually had the time to take in every feature
displayed on the fading and frayed page. The entirety of the country of Lastrala was visible, forming the
shape of a giant, very rough triangle. Different symbols were painted on in
delicate black brush strokes, covering different sections of the ancient map.
Laura studied them with wonder. Then Mr Stark’s words crept into her mind
It allows people to seek out every living witch, wizard and warlock
in the country, with or without their marks, by simply speaking their name. An idea so wild, so frightening, formed inside of Laura’s mind. Should
this plan succeed, she could finally allow herself to feel hope again. But if
it were to fail, she could be left with an even bigger hole in her heart than
she already had.
Laura took a breath and spoke the words very carefully.
‘Please show me Cara Harmer.’
Nothing happened straight away. And then, for only a moment, Laura saw the unmistakable
flash of green at the top of the triangle, where the peak of the state of Sharan
was.
Her heart fluttered and she spoke the words again, the light appearing for
only a second.
But it was there. She saw it.
Her mother was alive.
Chapter Eight
A Flicker Of Hope
‘STELLA!’
Laura burst into Stella and Leo’s office to find them both hunched over
case.’
‘When will I be able to join you?’ Laura asked as they stood, pushing their
chairs in.
Mr Stark looked almost amused. ‘My girl, I hardly think this is the type of
search a young and inexperienced child should be involved in!’ he laughed,
retrieving his hat.
Laura’s cheeks warmed, ‘what do you mean? That is my mother out there. I
should be out helping!’ she exclaimed.
‘You are helping by giving us the information we need to find her. I don’t
think your mother would like it if you were off running through the streets,
putting yourself in danger,’ Mr Stark replied, giving no acknowledgement to the
anger in Laura’s face.
Laura wanted to say more but Grace took her hand and patted it, ‘you will be
able to help, we promise,’ she whispered to her, ‘Mr Stark is just doing what
he thinks is right.’
Drew snorted and Grace shot him a look that said ‘shut the hell up!’
‘Well, take care everyone.’ Mr Stark bid them farewell.
Laura forced a smile as did the others.
‘Let me show you out,’ Stella said, leading Mr Stark through the door and
down the hall.
‘Absolutely hate that guy,’ Drew muttered.
Laura
excused herself not long after Mr Stark’s departure, shutting herself in her
room. She needed time alone to think about her dream, the one that seemed to
have sprung to mind so suddenly during her interview with Wilford Stark.
What had it meant? Was it a real memory that had somehow been unlocked?
Laura rolled onto her bed and rested her hands on her stomach, mulling over
the vision from her sleep.
When you remember this my dear, it is time, her mother had said.
It was that line that caused her extensive inner havoc, and that was why she
was even considering the possibility that it may not have been a dream. She desired
the freedom to discuss it with someone, but she couldn’t risk bringing forth
more trouble for her mother. Being able to exercise her power when she, they
assumed, didn’t maintain the mark, was a very dangerous ability to possess.
Laura squeezed her eyes shut in the hopes of blocking out the dream. She
allowed a calmness to settle over her as she pretended she was back on Wimerack
Mountain, her mother was safe, her father alive and the Spirit World non-existent.
She opened her eyes. But it did exist. Even if she were oblivious to
it, it was there and she was still a part of it. There was no escaping it.
Laura sat upright on her bed, reaching for her backpack. She found the map
inside, and unfolded it onto the bedspread. She noticed it’s incredible detail
considerably better this time, as she actually had the time to take in every feature
displayed on the fading and frayed page. The entirety of the country of Lastrala was visible, forming the
shape of a giant, very rough triangle. Different symbols were painted on in
delicate black brush strokes, covering different sections of the ancient map.
Laura studied them with wonder. Then Mr Stark’s words crept into her mind
It allows people to seek out every living witch, wizard and warlock
in the country, with or without their marks, by simply speaking their name. An idea so wild, so frightening, formed inside of Laura’s mind. Should
this plan succeed, she could finally allow herself to feel hope again. But if
it were to fail, she could be left with an even bigger hole in her heart than
she already had.
Laura took a breath and spoke the words very carefully.
‘Please show me Cara Harmer.’
Nothing happened straight away. And then, for only a moment, Laura saw the unmistakable
flash of green at the top of the triangle, where the peak of the state of Sharan
was.
Her heart fluttered and she spoke the words again, the light appearing for
only a second.
But it was there. She saw it.
Her mother was alive.
Chapter Eight
A Flicker Of Hope
‘STELLA!’
Laura burst into Stella and Leo’s office to find them both hunched over
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