Jack and Jill: Up a Hill: Jack and Jill, #1

By Vance Smith

Magic is real. Her parents never bothered to tell her.

After the death of her beloved Aunt Gloria, Jill Wright will do anything to hang on to her last memento – a golden locket. If only it were that easy.

When a violent pickpocket becomes fixated on the trinket, it’s clear that there’s a larger plot at work.  But with her absentee parents more interested in work than family, it’s up to her to find help from an unexpected ally – even if that ally has a pumpkin for a head.

Together with Jack Lantern, Jill must rely on her burgeoning powers to track down the shadowy group targeting her. Because the locket is only the start. They want something else from her, too.

Something far more sinister.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ravania Entertainment
• Release date: Mar 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386340058

Book preview

Jack and Jill

Up a Hill

A Jack Lantern Story

Vance Smith

Copyright 2018 Vance Smith.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Jack and Jill: Up a Hill is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Preface

Thief

Someone screamed. Jill wasn’t sure who, it could have been anyone, honestly. Loads of people were around, and the man ahead of her had collided with a group of girls, knocking them down. He glanced back to her, turned, and sprinted forward.

Jill grimaced, her legs pumping hard as she raced after him. It was uncommonly busy in Howth that afternoon. Jill didn’t know what to attribute it to. More tourists, maybe, but they were only a distraction. Her eyes remained fixed on the man ahead. He was her concern. That man with short cropped brown hair, and a shaggy beard.

He’d taken something from her. Just nicked it as they’d been passing on the street. It wasn’t violent or vengeful, merely sloppy. He’d reached into the pocket of her sweater, grabbed at it and darted away. She could see it, even now, clutched in his sweaty hand, the golden locket swinging back and forth.

They were running at full speed. At least Jill thought they were. As she closed the gap between them, the man put on another burst of speed and charged ahead. They were nearing the harbour, and the sound of seagulls and men at work drifted to her her, past the pounding in her head. She would not let him have it. It didn’t matter how stupid an idea it was. It didn’t matter that she was chasing after a grown up. She wouldn’t let him just steal from her. Someone would help her, she was sure of it.

The man darted across a road, heading to a large patch of green grass that wrapped about the harbour. Jill bounded into the street as a blue sports-car turned in, slamming on its brakes as she reached the middle of the road. Jill saw the car bearing down on her, and froze, it stopping just shy of her. She looked toward the thief, who slowed to a stop as he turned back. Jill could make out the smile on his face as he looked from her to the locket in his hands. He was going to get away, and he knew it.

Jill turned to the car as the driver opened the door. She stepped forward and put her hands on the bonnet.

‘Help me!’ she pleaded, slapping her hand onto the car.

The door stopped its motion.

‘That man stole from me!’ Jill continued, pointing to the thief across the road. ‘He took my locket! It's the only thing I have left of my aunt’s! You’ve got to help me!’

There was a slight pause before the door closed, and the engine roared to life. Jill looked wide-eyed at the car. She couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t going to do anything? She straightened, looking at the man through the tinted windscreen. She couldn’t make out his face, but stared at him, nonetheless.

There was a moment before the driver’s side window rolled down a crack.

‘Do you mind getting out of the way?’

Jill scowled and stepped clear.

The engine growled, and the car sprang foreword. Jill watched in amazement as it jumped the curb and raced toward the thief. The man let out a curse as he turned and broke into a run in the opposite direction. The blue sports-car tore across the green grass as it bore down on him. Jill gritted her teeth and chased after them.

She almost lost sight of the two as she ran down the sidewalk, but it was easy enough to follow. The sound of the car was hard to miss and as Jill ran on, it didn’t take long for her to get a clear view of them again. The thief stumbled, but stayed on his feet as he jumped a low fence and ran back out onto the road, crossing it and running down an adjoining street. The blue car followed, crashing through the wooden barrier and skidding around the tight corner before leaping down the narrow road.

Jill lost sight of them, but heard the screeching of tires, followed by a shout. She looked, then darted across the road, and entered the narrow lane. Buildings sprung up on both sides, cloistering the road. The car was stopped, turned at an odd angle. The thief was on the ground, clutching his leg. She raced forward as the car door opened and a man in a black suit got out. He stooped behind the car as Jill approached. She neared them and the man straightened. He turned to her, and Jill stopped, her eyes going wide.

His head was orange, with a crooked stem jutting from the top. His mouth, nose and eyes were carved, and he smiled as she gazed at his pumpkin-head.

‘This what you’re looking for?’ he asked, holding up a small golden locket on a delicate chain.

Jill stared at the man. She blinked. The features carved into the pumpkin shifted, becoming morose.

‘Hey, little girl…’ He wiggled the locket again, drawing her eyes back to it, if only for a moment. ‘Is this yours?’

Jill gawked, but managed a nod. ‘That — That’s what he stole,’ she said.

‘Good,’ the man said, smiling. He waited, cocking his head to one side. ‘Did… did you want it back?’

‘Yes.’

‘Right.’ He watched her for another moment. ‘You realise you have to come get it, don't you?’

‘You’ve got a pumpkin on.’

‘I do.’

‘Why?’

‘I’m sorry?’

‘Why do you have a pumpkin on?’

The man furrowed his pumpkin brow. He hesitated. ‘Do… you not want this back? Because I went to a little trouble to get it.’ He indicated the car. ‘This is a 1983 Ferrari 308, and now it has a bit of a bump in it. Bumps are very expensive for Ferraris.’

Behind him, the thief got to his feet. She reached out with her hand, to point, to warn. The guy with the pumpkin on only narrowed his eyes. ‘You know you can’t reach it from there, right? You’re like… ten feet away.’

‘Behind you!’ Jill called.

He turned as the thief jumped at him, ducking under a swinging fist and driving his own into the thief’s belly, making him grunt and step back. The pumpkin-headed guy held up a hand. ‘Stop. You’re already in enough trouble.’

The thief didn’t seem to care. He growled, snapping his fingers. As soon as he had done it, water materialised in his hands, wrapping about his fists, and solidifying. He moved again, and this time the pumpkin-headed man wasn’t fast enough. The thief’s punch caught him under the jaw and lifted him off the ground. The water from the thief’s fist shot out, pushing the pumpkin-headed man over the bonnet of his car, where he crashed to the ground. He tumbled, coming to rest near Jill. She hurried over to him as he struggled into a sitting position.

‘Oh… ouch,’ he groaned.

‘Are you alright, mister?’

He nodded. ‘Yup. It’s nice getting thrown five feet. Tell you what… I’ll wait here, you take the next punch.’

She looked up. The thief smiled, his dark eyes narrowed, and he started towards them, laughing.

‘You think you can get involved in anything you please?’ the thief asked. ‘Things don’t work like that here!’

‘Mister…’ Jill tried.

The man swayed, shaking his head, as to throw off the pain.

Jill looked back to the thief. He met her eyes and grimaced. ‘Couldn’t let it alone, could you? Had to be a hero, didn’t you?’

‘Don’t go near her,’ the pumpkin-headed man said, but the thief lashed out with a kick, catching the man in the shoulder and sending him sprawling to the ground.

Jill straightened, and turned to run, but the thief had his hands on her before she had taken a step. He pulled her back, and she screamed. His hand went to her mouth as he pushed her into the side of the building hugging the narrow lane.

‘Shut up!’ he growled, pressing his face close to hers. ‘All I want is the locket! But it’s not that easy now. Not after he showed up.’ The thief looked back up the road. A car passed by on the adjoining road, then everything fell silent again.

Jill looked at him and he smiled. ‘What will the papers write about tomorrow? How long has it been since someone turned up dead in Howth?’

Jill bucked against his grip, but he held her tight, his hands moving to her neck. She felt the pressure on her throat, and her head pounded. She couldn’t breathe. Jill kicked him, and the man grunted, but didn’t let go. In fact, he tightened his grip and Jill choked on her last breath.

‘No one’s going to save you!’ the thief laughed.

Through blurred vision, Jill saw the pumpkin-headed man stand up behind the thief. He scowled, then reached out, grabbing a handful of her attacker's hair and pulling back hard.

The thief screeched, letting go of Jill. She collapsed to the ground while he stumbled and turned to the pumpkin-headed man.

‘Trying to kill a kid?’ he asked.

‘Stay back!’ the thief yelled.

‘Trying to kill a kid… in front of me?’

The thief turned to run, but the pumpkin-headed man thrust out his hand. Jill thought she saw the air shimmer. The ground heaved up in front of the thief, the dark pavement forming into hands that grabbed at his leg. He yelled as he fell, his knee turning at a terrible angle. The ground retreated and the pumpkin-headed man walked over to the thief. He grabbed the man by the collar and hefted him up. He smiled. ‘No one’s going to save you.’ He let go, then planted a powerful right cross on the man’s cheek. He spun on the spot and fell heavily to the ground.

The man with the pumpkin-head turned and walked back to Jill, crouching in front of her.

‘Are you alright?’ he asked.

Still staring at where the ground had changed, Jill nodded.

‘Are you…’ he paused, waving a hand in front of her face. ‘Can you see me?’

Jill pulled her eyes away from the spot of ground.

‘Magic…’ she breathed.

He narrowed his eyes.

‘It is, isn’t it? Your head… that fight?’

He smiled at her and looked around casually. ‘You… live close by?’

She hesitated, nodding. ‘Who… Who are you?’

He slipped his hand in his pocket, retrieved the locket and handed it back to her. She took it, opened it to check that the picture was still inside and slipped the chain over her head.

‘The name’s Jack Lantern,’ the man said, extending a hand to her. She took it, and he stood, pulling her to her feet.

She looked around, her hand clasped around her locket. Jill leaned in toward Jack, her eyes narrowed. ‘Are you a wizard, Jack?’

He smiled. ‘Something like that. Come on, let’s get you home.’

Chapter One

No Big Surprise

Jill stared at him the whole drive over. She looked on in wonder as his pumpkin-face changed, moved. It was like anyone else’s face, minus the pumpkin bit. She knew her eyes were wide, knew she was gawking, but how could she not? He had a pumpkin for a head. He had made the earth reach out and grab that thief. He had saved her life!

‘Are you… scared?’ Jack asked.

Jack. He’d insisted she call him Jack. Not Mister Lantern. Just Jack. She stared, realising he’d been talking to her. She focused her gaze on him and tried to smile. ‘Not… Well, yeah. I’m more confused than anything.’

They rounded a corner, the engine purring and Jack glanced at her. ‘Confused?’

‘A little.’ She nodded. ‘I mean, don’t even get me started on you…’

‘What about me?’ Jack asked.

‘Your head is a pumpkin.’

‘You seem stuck on that point, Jill Wright.’

She threw her hands up. ‘How can I not be stuck on it?’

The car slowed, pulling up to the front of a little two-storey house. There was a boxy car in the drive and a small tree growing in the tiny garden.

‘This is your stop, right?’ Jack asked, looking at the house.

She nodded. ‘This is it.’

‘I’ll pop in and explain things to your parents.’

She leaned back a little in her seat.

‘What?’ Jack asked.

‘What?’

‘You flinched.’

‘Did not.’

‘You did.’

‘Did not!’

Jack grumbled. He set his hands on the steering wheel. ‘Is there something wrong? Do you not want me to talk to your parents?’

Jill paused. She bit at her lip and looked away.

It wasn’t that. Not really. But even if her parents had any time to talk to Jack, what would he say? It’s not like he would tell them that someone wielding magic attacked her in the streets of Howth for an old locket. Besides, she didn’t like this little adventure being told. It was a burst of excitement in her life she’d never had before. Sure, it had been terrifying. And if it weren’t for Jack showing up, it may have ended up a lot worse. But it was hers! Her adventure, and as soon as her parents knew, it would be about safety and police and everything else that came with such an encounter.

Jill said none of this though. She turned back to Jack and forced a smile. ‘No… Just… I’m worried what they’ll say about your pumpkin-head.’

Jack scowled. ‘How old are you, Jill?’

‘What’s that got to do with anything?’

Jack’s lip twitched.

‘Alright, I’m fifteen! Happy?’

‘How do you have such poo manners already?’

‘My manners are not poo!’

‘Get out of the car,’ Jack insisted. ‘We’re going to talk to your parents.’

Jill opened the door. ‘Now who’s manners are poo?’ she grumbled.

Jack climbed out of the car, looking over the roof at her as she straightened.

‘What was that?’ he asked, an edge to his voice.

‘Nothing!’ she said, with a hollow smile. ‘Just… Do you have a