Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! (6 page)

Next, he chucked me this clear plastic box
that jangled as it slid towards my feet. Inside was the biggest
collection of dirty, broken, or discarded channellers I had ever
seen.

“Which one would you like?”

“One that works preferably.” I felt really
depressed as I stood there. I had one of the most influential
families in all the Seven Magical Kingdom’s and here I was, in a
dungeon with a ghost, choosing, not even a second hand, but a
discarded channeller. Channellers are supposed to be sacred to the
user. In our culture it’s like a ceremony that you go and you try
all these channellers on. Rings, amulets and pendants are all
presented to you depending on your personality, star sign and
numerological value of your name. The one that’s right for you kind
of… feels right, sometimes it heats up, other times it does
something else. When Wendice got her channeller from
Mardies
(this posh channeller shop) this ring she put on spouted a vision
of a man’s face who told her that this was the ring for her. (I
think it was a scam, because it cost loads). Ross’s channeller was
a pendant that my Granddad gave him, Ross was his favourite
somehow, but when Ross put it on the whole room lit up. Frankly, I
wasn’t expecting the same thing to happen to me here in this dank
dungeon with this impatient ghost. Still, I took my time and lay
out my final three choices:

• A gold ring with a picture of a skull on it.

• A sticky pendant with a glass circle inside the
pewter.

• This dirty, thick silver amulet, with all these
dark markings.

Impkus looked at my choices, and immediately
said — “Don’t put that ring on!” he promptly took it and threw it
somewhere down the bottom of the room. That left two.

“This pendant looks ok,” said Impkus. “Oh no…
you see this sticky substance? That’s channeller blood, when the
owner blew his spark using too much Magic it killed the channeller
too.”

So that left me with the grubby silver
amulet. I gave it a polish with my robes and slipped it on my
wrist. I don’t know what I was expecting; fireworks, trumpets and a
marching band maybe? Needless to say, none of that happened. Not
even close. There was a rather loud puffing noise and the amulet
blew out a circle of smoke. Like a tired out man, breathing out a
lung full of stale cigar smoke.

That was it. I waited, Impkus waited. But
nothing else happened. They do say if the channeller doesn’t like
you, then the Magic you do will be ineffectual. I thought about
having another root around in the box, but Impkus picked it up and
threw it before I had chance. It sailed over a shelf and landed
with a crash. He pushed me out the room and led the way back to the
classroom, I followed nearly tripping on my new robes.

When I got back to class, everyone else had
their robes, ties and channellers on and were all comparing. They
laughed at me when I walked in. Their robes all fitted perfectly,
stopping just before the ankles. As I was shorter than everyone
else in the room anyway, I now looked like a leprechaun.

Partington was admiring Ellen’s channeller,
which was a rather extravagant pendant of silver-gold entwined with
a polished pearl face. Grettle asked her how the Outsiders get
their Channellers.

“Well it was strange,” said Ellen, who was
coming out of her shell. “The day after we replied to the letter
saying I would be attending, this funny man turned up on the
doorstep with a brown suitcase full of channellers. We sat down
with him in the living room and he proceeded to show me all these
different types. Anyway, when I put this pendant on, the TV blew
up! And he said I should take that one.”

The whole room
Ooooed
. I didn’t. It
wasn’t that impressive. To tell you the truth, I think I was a bit
jealous. Out there somewhere in a shop, or a man’s suitcase, was my
true channeller.

Robin had this thin bracelet kind of thing,
made of bronze. Hunter had a signet ring which he proudly waved
around at every opportunity. Simon was slightly embarrassed of his
and didn’t want to show it off much. When I looked closer I had to
laugh. He was wearing a thick pearl necklace. I sniggered as he
kept it hidden as best he could under his top.

“And er…” said Simon, sidling up to
Partington and whispering. “What do we do if our channeller
probably isn’t what we were expecting? Can we get another?”

“Oh no, not very likely,” said
Partington.

I laughed, then realised that I had a
Channeller that was probably useless. At least his worked.

Jess, Dawn, Grettle, Joanna and Dennis were
in one corner inspecting Florence’s beautiful ring. I could hear
Dennis exclaiming “Oh isn’t it beautiful… it’s so lovely, your hand
fits it perfectly.”

I helped myself to another apricot croissant
and sat down on my own. After a minute, listening to them all
rabbiting on about their channellers, Partington approached.

“Here, you’ll need these,” he handed me a
smart white shirt and a sheet of parchment with my timetable on
it.

“Thank you Sir.”

Partington turned to the class again. “Oh, I
forgot to say, house rules… at night, leave your dirty washing in
the dirty washing cotton bags that will appear on the end of your
bed. The laundry ghosts will collect them at some point in the
night.” Simon was about to say something, but I raised my eyebrows
and smiled, stroking my neck softly. I think he knew what I was
about to say, because he promptly shut his mouth, tucking his pearl
necklace further under his shirt.

I was a little concerned that all the other
guys had made quite good friends with each other already. Robin
left the table where I was sat and went over to Graham and they
started laughing and talking together, like two people that had
always been friends. I made a bit of effort, I went over and tried
to mingle, at the same time wondering how long this
free
time
was going to last. I approached Jess and Florence who were
talking about their timetable.

“Hiya,” I said.

“Hey,” they chorused.

“Did you get your channeller then?” said
Jess.

“I got
a
channeller yeah,” I smiled,
they both sort of nodded and no one said anything.

Jess turned back to Florence. “So… what
classes did you put in for?” and they began talking to each other
about how exciting it was to be doing Practical Magic at last. I
stood, awkwardly for a minute, then kind of backed out. I was
getting that sinking feeling again. I thought this place would be
different, I wasn’t expecting to be popular exactly, but just not
so wildly unpopular as I had been before.

After this free time, where I mainly tried to
enter conversations and failed, I sat on my own, staring at my
timetable as if it would provide me with some thrilling
conversation. Partington said we were to go down to the Chamber
where we would be able to mingle with other years and forms.

Ergh, more of this? Really?

He told us to dress smartly, so I pulled the
tie out of my pocket and put it on. It hang loose, crumpled, and
turned a pale, grubby turquoise. The new white shirt Partington
gave me was also a little big and the collar left a huge gap. I
didn’t look, or feel smart as Partington had asked, in fact I’d
have felt smarter wearing a gnome costume.

“Remember, we are the Condors!” said
Partington trying to gee us up as he led us down to the
Chamber.

It was packed full again. Partington led us
to our table, but we weren’t sat for long. Everyone sort of got up
and introduced themselves from other forms and other years. Robin
and Graham were walking round together. I sighed, just when I
thought I’d made a friend. Perhaps he thought I was too tragic.
Hunter had made loads of friends, he seemed to be able to make
people laugh, just by laughing, his big booming laugh carrying
across the whole chamber. Try sleeping in the same room as him, I
thought, then we’ll see if you still find him funny. I sat at the
table feeling tired and glum. There was more food, spread across
the tables, nibbles and drinks littered them like this was a
wedding or something. No trifle though.

The Magisteers were sat chatting and
observing. The Lily in conversation with a very tall, wide and
stern looking… woman? She had one thick black eyebrow, and a tight
black bun on her head. Remind me never to cross her. Magisteer
Dodaline was talking glumly to the expressionless Magisteer, but
broke off, looking thankful as Partington took the seat next to
her. Everyone else around me was a stranger, I knew, nor recognised
anyone. I felt shy and embarrassed, and anxious that I might end up
friendless.

Then I spotted Ross, who, soon as he saw me,
came over with his tall, intelligent looking friends and sat next
to me.

“Alright little brother?” he said grinning.
His friends Hamish and Gascoigne sat to my left giggling like
hyenas. “Settling in ok?”

He was up to something. I spotted it
immediately. When you live in a house full of evil people, you are
always on the lookout for trouble and my alarm bells were ringing
straight away.

“Fine thanks…”

“Yeah, listen I forgive you for what you said
yesterday. Thankfully most people think you were joking about not
being evil,” he laughed.

“But I’m not ev-”

He held up his hands. “You don’t have to say
anything, I told you, you are forgiven,” he said softly, too
softly. “That’s right, isn’t it lads?”

His friends, still giggling, nodded. Perhaps
he was being genuine? I couldn't tell.

“What are you up to?” I said, I looked behind
me to see if there was anyone waiting to trap me in a Magic net or
something. Ross held his hands up.

“Oh little brother, this is Hailing Hall, I
would never be nasty to you here. We’re brothers, and brothers
stick together. And hey, I like your new robes and… oh a new
channeller, where dya get it?” he actually sounded genuinely
interested.

“… lost property,” I said. “Mum and Dad
didn’t get me anything, so this ghost took me.”

“Yeah. Mum and Dad they can be… heartless
sometimes. Too busy for us, aren't they?” He sighed.

I nodded, still frowning.

“Anyway, take care little brother, see you
around. If you want or need anything, just give me a bell. My dorm
is on W wing,” he touched me on the shoulder and left.

“Sure,” I said. “Erm… thanks.”

I sat there feeling a little stunned, feeling
my body all over to make sure he hadn’t done anything to me.
Perhaps he was just acting evil when he was at home, perhaps this
was the real him at school? Feeling a little better I stood and
went to mingle, hopefully this time would be a little more
successful.

Robin and Graham were talking to two girls,
they all looked really awkward. I saw a large group of people I
could join, Hunter was standing there too. They were sort of in a
circle and consisting of four girls: two snooty ones, a pretty one
and a plain one. Simon was there too, as well as three other boys.
One tall bullish lad was regaling them all on a previous victory of
some kind. I walked up slowly, feeling stupidly nervous.

“And then, I mean I had to duck,” said the
bullish lad. “Otherwise the Wolf-raptor would have had my head
off.” They all applauded, even Hunter who looked transfixed.

“What’s a Wolf-raptor?” he said.

“You don’t know what a Wolf-raptor is?” said
the bullish lad, as if Hunter was a bit special.

“He’s from the
Outside
,” said one of
the snooty girls, she was dressed in a red skirt, which looked
pretty silly with her new turquoise robes. I snuck into the circle
next to Hunter who didn’t acknowledge me at all.

“And then,” said the bullish lad, he had a
really nasal voice, which I didn’t like, he sounded like Ross. “I
drew my fathers carving knife and showed the Wolf-raptor who was
boss!”

I couldn't help but frown with suspicion, he
must have been talking about a dream he’d once had. Then he spotted
me and my frown. “Oh hi,” he said. “Who are you?”

“Avis Blackthorn,” I saw him recoil instantly
at the sound of my name. I stuck my hand out, he checked my hand
and shook suspiciously.

“Hi, I’m… David Starlight.”

I waved at everyone else in the circle, they
all nodded back, friendly enough. “Sorry, please carry on… What was
that you were saying before?” I said, urging him to carry on. It
may have come out a little sarcastically.

“Yeah…” he looked unnerved now. “I was just
talking about the time I defeated an army of Wolf-raptors.” He said
smarting. I think my presence had spooked him and for once I was
glad I was a Blackthorn. “And I…” then he stopped speaking, looking
directly at my chest.

“HAHAHA!” He burst out laughing, pointing at
my chest. Then, the rest of the circle began laughing, except
Hunter who looked around the room. I looked around with him, what
were they laughing at? I followed their eyes down, down to my
robes. Which were flashing up pictures… of me! I went bright red as
a picture of me crying flashed up, with “
cry baby”
written
next to it, from three years ago when one of my brothers, I don’t
know which one, ripped off my teddy Sedrick’s head. More
embarrassing pictures began to flash all across my clothes. Behind
me I heard more laughs at this impromptu presentation of my most
embarrassing moments.

Me on the toilet. Me naked in the bath. Me
hanging upside down by the ankle with my brothers standing around
laughing. Me hanging out of the window from the topmost tower of
the castle by my pants. The horses eating my ice cream, and an
assortment of these kind of horrible memories I’d locked away
hoping no one would ever reveal again - let alone to people I was
trying desperately to impress.

I tried in vain, to cover it up, but the
images showed through no matter what I did. This could have only
been one person… Ross! The sly git almost had me convinced. I saw
him now, watching with glee from across the room giggling and
slapping his friends. Then the whole Chamber was laughing. You
should have seen it, honestly, a whole room full of people you want
to impress, all in hysterics laughing at your most barest moments
from your past, all laid out in front of you, unable to get rid of
it. Hot tears welled up in my eyes, and a large lump in my throat.
I swallowed. I couldn't and wouldn’t cry in front of all these
people.