Skilled in Magic: Five Go Into the Dark Worlds

By Gemma Kirkman

Each child has a hidden gift and together they will become skilled in magic, a circle of sorcerers. But first they must harness their separate powers and uncover the mystery of their birthright.

The eccentric Professor holds secrets too. Through him, they learn the tragic truth of their parents' death and inherit a magic quest. Embarking on a reckless rescue mission to three dark worlds controlled by the evil sorcerer, Lord Mediarn, the children are tested by danger and heartbreak.

What is the greater magical power that they must claim? And why are five more powerful than four? Only by heroic measures may they hope to defeat the dark wizard and release the worlds he has held captive for so long.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781925681543

Book preview

23

- 1 -

Julian raced along the train platform as a passing inspector blew the final whistle. He swung himself into the carriage only moments before the train pulled away from the platform. When he found the compartment with his brother and younger sisters in it, he sat down heavily in the closest seat.

How unfit are you! Lee said, as she watched him try to catch his breath.

He tossed her a small black purse, which she caught with a pleased smile.

I wouldn’t say too much, seeing as you’re the reason I can’t breathe right now, he said.

Thanks for going back to get that.

Julian nodded and rested the back of his head on the seat, his eyes closed. "Next time you leave something behind, you can go running like a maniac through the station to get it back," he said.

When would she ever do that? Edward teased. Lee’s hair wouldn’t be able to stand that much movement.

Lee stuck her tongue out at him, her hands reaching up automatically to smooth down her already perfectly straight, long dark hair in its ponytail.

I didn’t hear you volunteering, Maggie said to him.

Now Maggie, you know that you can depend on me in any emergency.

Those must have been times when I wasn’t there then. Maggie giggled as Edward playfully pulled her hair.

The Delliks children were very close, as close as brothers and sisters can be. Their parents had died when they were young, and they had learnt to rely only on each other. They also shared a great secret, which brought them even closer together.

Maggie was the baby of the group. Her name was Margaret, but she was always called Maggie by the others. She tended to blend into the background because she was shy, and the others who were much louder and boisterous, spoke over her often. Her short reddish-brown hair framed her slender face, and with her large violet eyes, she looked somewhat like a pixie.

Lee was next in line and closest in age to her older brother Edward. They fought constantly. Edward was the troublemaker of the group and irritated Lee more than anyone, usually on purpose. He had dancing blue eyes and messy blonde hair that fell in his eyes.

Lee was more reserved than the others and had brilliant green eyes, a long fringe that fell in her eyes, and a serious expression. When she argued with Edward though, she lost her temper and her expression would became animated with her green eyes flashing sparks.

Julian was the eldest of the siblings and he took his role of head of the family very seriously. It was reflected in his sombre grey eyes and firm studious face. He was extremely protective of the others, and had taken on the responsibility of looking after them after their parents had died when he was eight years old.

None of the children could remember much about their parents, their deaths had happened so long ago. For a long time afterwards, the shock of their parents’ passing had made them feel isolated and lonely, and they had drawn together to comfort each other.

Julian, sitting quietly in the compartment, watched his siblings with a wry smile as they bantered with one another. Edward was mocking Lee’s outfit, to the amusement of the others.

You look like a school teacher, he said.

What’s wrong with it? Lee looked down at herself.

You look about fifty, said Edward.

I do not!

What’s with the daisies on your skirt? Only old women wear daisies! Plus it’s big enough to be a shower curtain.

Maggie turned her laugh into a cough as Lee scowled at her for siding with Edward.

And I think a homeless person somewhere is looking for their shoes, said Edward as he looked at Lee’s sensible sandshoes.

So they’re a little old, said Lee, tucking her feet out of sight. She usually had a very precise way of speaking, but Edward’s prodding made her voice heated.

A little? You wear things for so long that they’re back in fashion again.

Julian chipped in, hastily changing the subject before one of their infamous arguments could start.

What do you think the Professor will be like?

The Professor was the person they were on their way to meet.

Crazy and wild-eyed, with a shock of white hair! Edward said immediately. No, actually, short and fat with a long bushy moustache.

Tall and quiet, with glasses that keep falling off his nose, said Lee.

A red-head with a beard who talks with a lisp, Maggie said.

A dark-haired skinny person, who’s really a woman in disguise, said Edward.

Julian shook his head as their descriptions grew more and more outrageous.

One blue eye, one green, the other brown! Edward said, laughing uncontrollably.

I hope he’s going to be easier to live with than Grandma was, said Lee.

One by one they fell into a guilty silence. She had recently passed away and although none of them had liked her much, it had still been an unhappy time.

It’s sad that she’s gone now, but... Lee trailed off.

She didn’t care what happened to us, said Edward bluntly.

She took us in at least, Julian said. He didn’t want them to think the worst of her. After all, she had been their last remaining relative.

Please!’ exclaimed Edward. She packed us off to boarding school as soon as we were old enough, and when we had to come home in the holidays, she spent her time ignoring us or making us do housework."

Julian was silent. It was true. Their grandma hadn’t been cruel or nasty to them, but they certainly went short of care and attention.

You probably saw her more than anyone, said Lee.

Only because I was the one in trouble all the time, said Edward.

Lee grinned. I wonder why?

She was worse with me than anyone though, said Edward indignantly. I used to get in trouble for ridiculous things like not hanging out the washing the right way!

I don’t really miss her, Maggie said in a quiet voice, hanging her head.

Julian put his arm around her. Don’t feel bad. We didn’t really know her. Our new guardian might be around more.

We’ll have to be careful about the Professor finding out about us though, said Maggie.

Especially until we figure out what he’s like, Lee agreed. It was okay around Grandma; she never cared about us anyway.

Our teachers seemed to make up for that, said Edward.

Lee looked at him pointedly. Well, with you anyway.

They had all had some close calls when it came to other people discovering their secret, but none as much as Edward, who seemed to delight in trying to get away with as much as possible.

Julian looked at him and was about to launch into his well-rehearsed speech about being careful around other people, when Edward, catching the look in his eye, interrupted quickly.

I’ll be careful, I promise. No-one has found out yet anyway.

"That was only because you were lucky, not careful. Besides, you have been found out. They just didn’t know what had happened."

Edward started to grin, then caught Julian’s eye. Okay, okay, I get it, he said. I won’t do anything stupid. He ignored Lee’s snort. I don’t know why we have to move into a new place anyway. We’ve already moved more times than I can remember.

Hopefully this’ll be the last for a while, said Maggie.

Pulling down his bag from the top shelf, Julian found the legal documents that their Grandma’s lawyer had handed him that morning. Sheafing through them, he paused at the paragraph that proclaimed them legal wards of the Professor.

The lawyer had been brusque and unhelpful when he told them that they were to travel far into the countryside to live with their appointed guardian. The only thing they knew of him was that he was a very old friend of their parents. That seemed to be why their parents had appointed him their guardian, even though they didn’t remember seeing him at their house when their parents were alive.

Julian was determined to stay positive for the others, though he had his own doubts about what to expect.

The others were silent for a while as they gazed out the window. Leafy trees whizzed by and were soon replaced by small cottages dotted here and there amidst green fields.

I hope we won’t be living in a shack like one of those, said Edward as a particularly run-down house flashed by. At least we’ll be in the country. We can escape outside if things get too unbearable.

The others agreed. They hadn’t liked boarding school at all. They only really liked each other’s company, so being shut up with other people hadn’t been ideal for any of them.

None of them had ever made many friends in school. It was hard when there was so much about themselves they kept secret. The lawyer had told them that because their new guardian was a retired professor, they would be taught at home, which suited them well. They wouldn’t have to be so careful with their secret if it was just them.

Edward had been concentrating on something in his hand for a while now. Suspicious, Julian tried to see what it was.

He’s changing a button into a cockroach to scare someone with, Lee said without even looking up.

Edward looked guilty and shot Lee an angry look. You use your powers all the time, Miss Know All! I can’t do anything without you reading my mind.

I can’t read minds, I can only sense someone’s intention, Lee said, in the tone of someone who had said the same thing many times before.

Get rid of it, Edward, said Julian. There’re too many people around for you to be doing that now. You should know better than to be so obvious.

None of them considered their powers to be strange, as they had been with them for as long as they could remember, but it was always at the top of Julian’s mind that others would think so.

Lee’s power is obvious. She picks up on people’s intentions all the time! Edward said.

Lee’s power isn’t a physical one like ours. The girls work differently with their powers, it isn’t as obvious that something’s going on, said Julian.

Exactly, no one ever knows what I’m doing, said Lee. It’s a little harder to explain away a five-layer cake in the middle of a school excursion, she said, bringing up one of Edward’s infamous episodes at school.

It was Maggie’s birthday! Edward protested, trying to hide a smile.

Speaking of birthdays, it’s going to be mine soon, Julian said.

Are we going to be able to do what we usually do? Maggie asked.

They had a tradition where they used their powers to create a special birthday present on each of their birthdays. It was fun trying to think up new ways to use their skills.

Julian had started the tradition when they were small, remembering how their parents had always asked to see a demonstration of their powers on their birthday. It was one of the few things all the children could remember of them, and Julian used it as much as a novelty as trying to keep something of their parents alive.

We’ll find a way to do it, Julian said firmly.

Great, because I already know what I’m going to do! Edward said.

It’s easy for you though, you can just transform an object into anything you want, Lee complained. Her ability was often the hardest to use at will, and she struggled each year trying to come up with something original.

You did fantastic last year though, Julian said. Lee had picked up on the intention of the principal to leave early one day, so they’d taken advantage of it and used his office to throw a party for Julian.

Edward laughed in appreciation at the memory. One of the few times you’ve actually outdone me!

Edward’s power of changing objects into anything he wanted often landed him in the most trouble as well. This had first become apparent when he was in his usual cheeky mood one dinner and changed Brussels sprouts into grasshoppers, scaring the living daylights out of their Grandma.

They all laughed and started telling stories about stunts they’d pulled using their powers.

I once turned all the chalk into white musk sticks when I was in detention, said Edward. You know those lollies? The teacher couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t work, so we all got sent home early!

Do you remember how we had a rat infestation at school and they had to close it down for a week? Maggie said.

Yes, said Lee. Her mouth fell open. You didn’t!

Maggie tried to look ashamed. Well, I had a big test the next day and hadn’t studied.

Edward laughed. Who would have thought little Maggie had it in her.

Maggie’s power was that she could talk to animals. She hadn’t realised this was different until she’d told the others what the birds in the garden were chattering about – only to be met with blank stares.

When the giggling had died down, they all turned to look at Julian, who was silent.

What? he said with a raised eyebrow.

Come on, you must have done something too, said Lee.

Yeah, I know you feel like you have to set an example, but there must have been something you did that was against the rules, said Edward.

The corners of Julian’s lips twitched. No, not really.

There was! Tell us, we’ve told you ours, said Lee.

Julian laughed as they kept pleading. I’d never hear the end of it if I told you.

We’ll forget it straight away! Edward said immediately.

Julian looked at him.

Well, we’ll promise not to bring it up again, said Edward, correcting himself with a grin.

Julian’s ability was the most powerful of them all and he rarely used it. When he did, it was usually to help out one of the others or to cover up Edward’s latest prank.

They all spoke up at once, urging him to tell them.

Okay, okay! I can see I’m not going to get any peace over it, said Julian.

They shut up and waited for him to go on.

I was the one that caused the metal flagpole in front of the school to topple over.

A somewhat stunned silence followed.

Can you do that? Maggie said in an awed voice.

The flagpole in question was incredibly big, and it had taken a very large crane to sink it into the ground.

Well, not exactly. I was moving the rocks and earth around the base of it. I just wanted to see what the biggest rock I could move was, said Julian. I obviously moved too much because the next thing I knew, the flagpole started swaying back and forth.

Was anyone else there? Maggie said.

It was end of term and everyone had left. I was waiting for Grandma to pick me up and you know how she was always late. I just got bored I guess.

Julian still felt a bit guilty over the whole episode. Luckily the flagpole hadn’t crashed into the school; it had