The Magical Realm of Shadows Part 1 Chapter 2

Journey Into The Unknown

Billy didn’t want to get up, as he’d hardly slept, but Diana took away his quilt. “You know, our Di, you’re not my mam, you know.”

Candy jumped up and snapped at Diana’s hand. Diana dropped the quilt and only just managed to dodge the bite.

Billy went downstairs in his pyjamas, clutching his belly, like when he didn’t want to go to school.

“Mam, I can’t go Aunty’s, I’ve got a tummy ache.”

“Stop trying it on, Billy. Get upstairs and get dressed.”

After breakfast, Mother was running around like a mother hen, all excited and checking their luggage to make sure they had everything. They were casually dressed in sportswear for comfort. All electronic entertainment, including mobile phones, had been banned on Aunty’s instructions. They all protested, and Brigit said it was a terrible abuse of human rights, but Mother assured them they wouldn't miss such things once they got there.

While Brigit and Diana ran up to their room for things they had forgotten, Mother had a heart-to-heart with Lily and Billy.

She stroked Billy’s hair. “Listen, darling, I know it’s hard for you, but you must do what Lily says while you’re at Aunty’s.”

Billy screwed up his face and rocked his shoulders.

“And you, Lily, I know you all think I favour Billy Boy, but I can’t help that. It’s so unusual to have a boy in our family, always three girls, and he’s so small for his age…”

“I’m not a baby,” Billy said.

“All right, Billy, don’t interrupt, please.” Mother continued talking to Lily. “Don’t think you’re not special, because you are. You’re the head of the family when your dad and I aren’t there, so I need you to look after your brother and sisters. Just remember this when you’re at Aunty’s, if anyone asks you for help while you’re there, you mustn’t deny them. Do you understand, darling?”

“Yes, Mother, I think I do.”

“Remember I told you that magic exists if you know where to look for it. Well, you’re about to find out that it’s true. The thing is that your brother and sisters are still a bit young for what you’re about to experience so I need you to guide them, Lily.”

“All right, Mam, I’ll do my best, but I’m a bit confused about all this, to tell the truth.”

“I know you are, darling, that’s only to be expected, but I want you to know that I trust your judgement. I know that most of the time you’re a naughty girl, but where you’re going that’s not such a bad thing. That’s why I know that you’ll love it most of all.”

Lily put an arm over Billy’s shoulder but he shrugged it off. When Brigit and Diana returned, Mother hugged everyone in turn.

“Come on! Everyone in the Jag,” said Father.

As Billy was about to climb into the car, Mother called him back for another hug. He ran to her, jumping into her open arms.

“No matter what happens, Billy, don’t be afraid, remember it will all turn out all right and mammy loves you.”

“I love you too, Mammy, more than anything.”

She put him down and he ran to the car, smiling.

Mother followed them to the end of the drive, saying, “Remember, we’re all as one.”

Billy carried on waving to her until she was out of sight, and then he started complaining straight away. “I should’ve sat in front, silly Lily. You’re just a girl.”

“Oh, wind your neck in, Billy Boy,” Lily shot back. “You’re just a big baby.”

“Don’t start, already,” Father jumped in. “I hope Aunty knows what she’s let herself in for with you lot.”

Out on the open road, Billy annoyed his sisters by naming every make and model of car he recognized. At least father seemed proud of his performance.

“Dad, why is it that girls can’t pee standing up?” Billy liked surprising everyone.

“Well…” Dad went um and ah.” “It’s… you know… it’s because they’re ladies, Billy.”

“Well, I think it’s silly, I wouldn’t wanna be a girl.”

“Billy!” said Diana, who was sitting in the middle. “Stop picking your nose.”

“Why do you want some?” He wiped his finger on the side of Diana’s face, causing her to screech and slap his arm. Billy retaliated by punching Diana’s thigh. Candy jumped from Brigit’s lap and got in between them, threatening to bite Diana.

“That’s enough!” shouted Father. “No fighting in the car, you know the rules. And, Billy, what have I told you about hitting your sisters?”

“But they always hit me,” he whined. “When I grow up, I’m gonna beat ’em all up.”

“Billy...” Father continued in a more tolerant tone. “How many times do I have to tell you? Men don’t hit women.”

“Is that why you have to do everything Mam says,” said Billy.

The girls couldn't help laughing at that.

Father shook his head and muttered something under his breath about looking forward to seeing the back of them all.

Brigit soon restored the peace by reading them an extract from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, about the hookah-smoking worm on the magical mushroom.

It wasn’t long before Billy drifted off to sleep cuddling Candy. Well, he had been awake for most of the night worrying about ghosts.

Falling endlessly through the darkness, sticky material clinging to his body. Oh, no. Expecting to hit the ground any moment… praying for Mam to catch him. Then landing on something soft, his bed – maybe.

Eyes opening… nothing to see but grey stuff… feeling mummified. Scraping away the silky material from his eyes. Spider’s webs! Arghhh! Fighting free of the cocoon.

Looking around at the large cave with burning torches fixed to the walls. Gazing up at the high ceiling. No! A giant hairy spider crawling down towards him.

Escape… where? That narrow crack in the cave’s wall, with a faint light shining through. Dragging his heavy legs along… managing to squeeze out just as the spider hit the ground behind him.

Where on earth? A forest of dead trees. The blanket of thick fog reaching up to his knees. Drawn towards a clearing and the big tree in the middle, its wide trunk full of holes and cracks. A hollow tree. Stepping inside the musty smelling interior to be greeted by a croaking voice, “Hello, there, Billy Boy.”

Looking up – heart in mouth – a red-haired hag in black robes floating above. Running from the tree, the hag’s cackling following and ringing in his ears.

The fog clears… a maze of hedges. There’s Mam up ahead, but walking away. Calling her name, over and over. Running, but stuck in slow motion, the object of his love disappearing round a corner. Turning the corner, only to find she’s turned another. Why can’t she hear? “Mam!”

Trying to overcome the forces slowing him down. Reaching the corner, but – no sign of her. If he could only find her everything would be all right. Searching in vain. Glimpses of her turning corners, ahead, behind. There in the corner of his eye… someone turning the corner he’d just come from.

Running back, turning the corner. Oh, no! A blonde-haired hag grinning down at him, her horrible voice croaking, “Are you lost, Billy Boy?”

Fleeing again. “Mam, where are you?”

“Here, Billy! Come on. It’s tea time, darling.”

Running towards the voice… where did the long grass come from?

“Come on, Billy,” Mother keeps shouting.

Getting nearer. But then, the voice suddenly seems far away and in the other direction. Running back again, the slow motion effect wearing off. Picking up speed and closing in on the voice. Then bumping into something… falling down. The grass parts to reveal a brown-haired hag laughing without mirth. “Got you, Billy Boy.”

Picking himself up. Where? The courtyard of a dark, imposing castle… Turrets looming over him, seeming to reach the clouds. Maybe Mam’s inside. Heading for the double doors of the arched entrance.

Freezing on the spot as all three hags come out of the castle. Turning to run, but… No! Slow motion again. Surrounded by hags, their tormenting cackles and croaking mockery echoing in his head. Chanting over and again, “Come on, Silly Billy, let’s play ring a ring of roses.”

Stood in the dock of a courtroom, facing the seated hags and the judge sitting behind and above them. Most of the judge’s face hidden in the shadow of his black, hooded cloak. Looking around the stone block walls… alcoves with cages containing little boys… crying or looking sad.

The judge slams down his gavel. “Billy Morgan, you are accused of not doing what your sisters tell you. How do you plead?” His voice sounded just like the headmaster’s.

Fighting back the urge to cry and plead for mercy. Then he hears Mam’s voice in his head telling him not to be afraid, that everything would be all right because she loved him. Getting angry and putting hands on hips, pushing out his tiny chest.

“Hey, you, silly mister! No one tells me what to do excepting my mam. Who the flipping heck do you think you are, anyway? You big numpty.”

The judge stands up to lean forward. “I’ll tell you who I am, Billy Boy. My name’s Billy too, and I want my tools back, now!”

Billy woke up screeching, “Help me, Daddy, help me, please, they’re gonna put me in a cage.”

Spooked by the outburst, Candy jumped in between the front seats and cowered at Lily’s feet.

Father was so surprised he swerved the car. “Hang on, Son," he said. "While I can park the car.”

Once they were safely parked, Father turned round. “What’s wrong, Billy?”

“Its Billy Bags, he’s after me cos he thinks I’ve got his tools.”

The girls looked uncomfortable and gazed at their laps.

“Right, Lily!” snapped Father. “Whatever it is that you’ve told him, tell him it’s not true – now!”

“There’s no such person as Billy Bags,” Lily said in a tender voice. “I made it all up to get you to go away.”

“You’re just saying that because of Dad. He broke his neck in that big tree, Dad, before you moved to our house. Now his ghost…”

“Never mind what Lily said,” Father interrupted, “Lily doesn’t know anything about what happened in that house before we moved there. She was just teasing you, Son. Come on, Lily, I expect you to make him understand

“Ghosts and demons don’t really exist,” Lily assured him. “Magic only exists in stories.”

“So, how come the tooth fairy puts money under my pillow, then? How come Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer can fly?”

“That’s different,” said Lily, wishing she’d never got herself into this.

“How is it different? If magic doesn’t exist how can fairies and flying reindeer?”

Lily was stumped, so Brigit tried to help. “What Lily means is that bad magic doesn’t exist, not the kind you have to be scared of.”

“You’re all big fat liars, then!" Billy shouted. "Mam says you won’t go to heaven if you lie.”

“Come on, girls,” said Father. “You all owe Billy an apology.”

“Sorry, Billy,” they chanted.

“Is that it, then? Can we go on now?” When nobody answered, he pulled the car back onto the road.

Enjoying his sister’s humility, Billy grinned. Father told Lily to put a CD on, to lighten the atmosphere. Soon they were all singing along to Rhianna’s “Under My Umbrella,” and giggling every time Father got the words wrong.

“I love you, Billy,” said Diana.

Billy tried to wink at her, but blinked unevenly. “I love you too, Di – sometimes.”