A Tangle of Secrets: The Town of Superstition, #4

By R. G. Thomas

An old enemy creeps closer than ever before, intent on extracting revenge.
New challenges arise as family dynamics are suddenly shifted following the great battle in Iron Gulch.

 

Thaddeus Cane has returned to the town of Superstition a very different boy. Even with all the changes he's experienced over the summer, however, Thaddeus must still attend classes at yet another new school. But this school year, he has a completely different mindset. Now he's a wizard who can perform magic.

 

Keeping his abilities secret, however, proves more complicated than Thaddeus anticipated, especially when he's confronted by the school bully. In addition to the challenge of high school, Thaddeus is continually reminded of the dark forces aligned against him, and now it appears they've set their sights on Teofil and his family as well.

 

New friendships at school and Teofil's fixation on finding the answers to painful family secrets strain the bond between Thaddeus and Teofil. The truth they seek to uncover may prove to be too much for their very new relationship.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mitten Ginger Media
• Release date: Jul 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223152606

Book preview

A Tangle of Secrets

THE TOWN OF SUPERSTITION BOOK FOUR

An old enemy creeps closer than ever before, intent on extracting revenge.

New challenges arise as family dynamics are suddenly shifted following the great battle in Iron Gulch.

Thaddeus Cane has returned to the town of Superstition a very different boy. Even with all the changes he’s experienced over the summer, however, Thaddeus must still attend classes at yet another new school. But this school year, he has a completely different mindset. Now he’s a wizard who can perform magic.

Keeping his abilities secret, however, proves more complicated than Thaddeus anticipated, especially when he’s confronted by the school bully. In addition to the challenge of high school, Thaddeus is continually reminded of the dark forces aligned against him, and now it appears they’ve set their sights on Teofil and his family as well. New friendships at school and Teofil’s fixation on finding the answers to painful family secrets strain the bond between Thaddeus and Teofil. The truth they seek to uncover may prove to be too much for their very new relationship.

Chapter One

His first day of school, Thaddeus awoke to screaming.

He jumped out of bed, heart pounding and a cold stone of fear lodged behind the hollow of his throat. Smoke drifted lazily around his room, and he coughed as he hurried to open his bedroom door. It was thicker in the hallway. Before Thaddeus could step out his door, his father ran past from his own bedroom. Thaddeus followed, but they didn’t go down the steps to the first floor and out of the house to safety. Instead his father rushed to the closed door of the guest room at the other end of the short hallway. The smoke alarm had been disabled for days now. They did not speak. They’d been through this scenario several times already in the last two weeks, and each of them knew what needed to be done.

His father pushed the guest room door open, and heat rushed out over them. Flames surrounded his mother where she lay in the middle of the bed, eyes shut tight and mouth open in a loud, terrified scream. She clutched the fitted sheet beneath her. From each of her hands marched a line of flames that had scorched through the sheets and burned along the mattress.

Thaddeus’ father crouched to pick up a large fire extinguisher near the door and raced to the other side of the bed, spraying the flames as he went.

Thaddeus grabbed a second extinguisher and aimed the cone-shaped nozzle at the near side of the bed. He triggered a blast of CO2 in time with his father, who stood across the bed from him. They quickly smothered the flames, leaving behind heavy smoke and a chemical smell that made Thaddeus cough and wipe his streaming eyes. His mother continued to scream through the entire ordeal. Her skin and hair were unaffected by the flames, but the fire had scorched her nightgown along with the sheets.

Stand back, his father directed. And hang on to that extinguisher.

Thaddeus took a couple of steps back from the bed and aimed the nozzle of the extinguisher at his parents. He coughed quietly and watched through tear-filled eyes as his father leaned over the bed to gently shake his mother.

Claire, it’s Nathan, he said in a calm voice. You’re safe, you’re just dreaming. You’re home and safe, and Thaddeus is here. Come back to us.

Thaddeus’ muscles tensed. Even though he’d been through this same routine several times now, witnessing his mother wake up from a nightmare made his heart ache every time.

His mother’s eyes snapped open, and Thaddeus nearly shouted in fear. Gone were the beautiful light blue irises, now replaced by searing red laced with thin lines of orange.

Claire, it’s me, Thaddeus’ father continued in the same even tone, and Thaddeus had to give him credit for not fleeing. It’s Nathan. You’re here with us now, and you’re safe. Come back to me and Thaddeus. You can do it.

The anger and hatred on his mother’s face sent a cold needle of anguish into the middle of Thaddeus’ chest. He felt so helpless and scared during these final moments of his mother’s night terrors. If she lashed out at his father, Thaddeus could do nothing to save him. He waited with the fire extinguisher aimed at his father, hoping he wouldn’t have to use it but ready to act if necessary.

For a moment, she glared up at Thaddeus’ father, the rage clear in her eyes and expression. His father continued speaking to her in a relaxed tone, telling her his name and where she was. Gradually her face softened. Tension seeped out of Thaddeus’ muscles. In the split second it took for her to blink, her eyes changed from the burning red of the dragon she had been, back once more to the blue of the woman she had only recently become again.

Nathan? she said in a small, quiet voice.

Cool relief went through Thaddeus. The fire extinguisher suddenly felt incredibly heavy, and he set it down. The sound caught his mother’s attention, and she looked at him. Embarrassment was clear in her expression.

Oh, Thaddeus, she said, I’m so sorry. She sat up in bed, her blackened nightgown revealing her unburned body beneath. Thaddeus looked away as she tried to pull a sheet up to cover herself, but it too was burned and useless. I did it again. Oh, no. Oh, God, I’m so very sorry.

It’s all right, Claire, Thaddeus’ father said, gathering her close. We’re here for you.

Thaddeus heard his alarm beeping from down the hall. What a way to start the year off in a new school.

He turned away from his parents’ embrace and walked to his bedroom. With a tap on the clock radio, he switched off his alarm, then pushed open both his windows to clear out the smoke. He stuck his head out the window that looked over their short dirt driveway, closed his eyes, and drew in a deep breath of cool, crisp air.

When he opened his eyes, he smiled as he looked down into the neighboring yard. The privacy fence stood tall and solid against any prying eyes, to keep the Rhododendron family business secret. And the back gate had a spell on it that would admit only members of the family and their friends such as Thaddeus; his parents; Vivienne, the witch who worked at the library and who had fought alongside them at Iron Gulch; and Dulindir, the elf they had met during their travels in the Lost Forest.

The view from Thaddeus’ window was the only way to see down into the yard, and he had been impressed over the last two weeks as the gnome family had smoothed out the ragged edges of the hole where his mother had hibernated in dragon form for so many years. A gentle slope led in and out of the hole, and flat rocks had been placed in the bottom, slanted to allow for the runoff of rainwater. An opening, which would soon become an extra room, had been dug into the earth walls.

As Thaddeus watched, a short and stocky boy walked out of the opening with shovels carried over a shoulder. He was one of Teofil’s brothers, but Thaddeus was having trouble keeping many of them straight. Other than Teofil, whom he knew very well, of course, and his older sister Astrid, who had traveled with them, Thaddeus could recognize maybe three of the remaining boys and girls. This boy—Seamus perhaps? Maybe River?—went up the slope that led to the thick lawn and headed for the back door to the tall, three-story house. The sounds of multiple young children shouting for breakfast or at their siblings—the standard morning chaos of a large family, Thaddeus had learned—drifted up to him from the open back door. Above all that racket, Thaddeus could hear Miriam’s calm, firm voice as she instructed, placated, and scolded her children.

With a grin, Thaddeus turned away from the window and hurried across the hallway to the bathroom. He showered quickly and afterward wiped the mirror free of steam to give himself a long look. He had always liked his dark blue eyes but wished for something other than his dark hair. It looked almost black when it was wet, and he spent some time making sure his side part was straight along his scalp. Light brown fuzz had sprouted in patches along his cheeks, jawline, and throat over the summer, but instead of making him look older, it seemed to accentuate the bare spots in between. He decided the fuzz needed to go. No need to give any of the older students something to tease him about on his first day in a new school, so he quickly buzzed it all away with his father’s electric razor.

He ran his fingers over the smooth skin of his chest and sighed. Would he ever grow chest hair? His father had chest hair, and Teofil’s chest was practically a grassland. He hoped he’d see some sprout soon.

Thaddeus! his father shouted up the steps. Let’s get a move on!

Thaddeus made a face at his reflection. I’m getting dressed! He grabbed his toothbrush from the medicine cabinet. Once his teeth were brushed, he opened the bathroom door and, with a towel around his waist, dashed across the hall to his bedroom and slammed the door behind him.

He inspected the outfit he’d spent a long time picking out the night before. Faded blue jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a long-sleeved button-down shirt over that. High-top sneakers completed the look, and he nodded, still satisfied with his selection.

Thaddeus! his father called.

I’m getting dressed!

"You said that five minutes ago. Get dressed now!"

Whatever, Thaddeus mumbled. He dressed quickly, grabbed his backpack—the same one he’d carried through the Lost Forest to Wraith Mountain—and pounded down the steps. When he stepped into the kitchen, he came to a dead stop and stared.

For the first time in his life, both his parents sat at the kitchen table, ready to see him off to his first day of school. Emotion choked him up, as if all the years without his mother had wadded themselves into a giant ball now wedged in his throat.

His mother blushed and smiled as she got to her feet alongside his father. She wore sweat pants and a pullover, her bare feet soft on the linoleum as she approached and took his hands, squeezing them as she looked at him with tears in her eyes.

My dear boy, look how you’ve grown. You’re so very handsome. She pulled him into a hug, and Thaddeus fought against tears as he hugged her back. When she pulled away, she said, I’m so very sorry I caused such a commotion. I can’t seem to keep my dreams under control.

Don’t worry about it, Thaddeus said. I’m just glad you aren’t hurting yourself. We’re a family now, and we’ll figure it out together.

His father stepped up behind his mother and put his hands on her shoulders. That’s right. We’re all in this together. He smiled at Thaddeus over her shoulder. What do you want for breakfast?

I need to get going, Thaddeus replied with a glance at the clock. I’ll take a Pop-Tart with me.

That’s not a good enough breakfast for your first day of school, his father said.

Thaddeus crossed the kitchen to the cupboard. It’s okay, Dad. This has vitamins and minerals, it says so right on the box.

It also has a ton of sugar, his father said with a scowl.

Thaddeus gave them a wave as he headed for the side door. Gotta run. Good luck job hunting.

Have a good day! his parents called after him.

Thaddeus grabbed his bike from its spot behind the house and ran with it around to the back of the privacy fence next door. He shoved open the gate and pushed the bike as he made his way to the steps leading up to the back of the house. He dropped the bike and took the steps up to the kitchen two at a time.

Chaos was the only word he could think of that would describe the scene inside. The house had once belonged to Leopold Solobiec, an older wizard who had brought Teofil to live with him. Now it belonged to Teofil and his parents and numerous siblings. The kitchen—the heart of any home—was warm and cramped with enough cooking utensils and dishes to keep a family of thirteen children and two adults fed. Row upon row of narrow shelves along two walls held jars in a variety of shapes and sizes. These were Miriam’s mixtures, each one ready to heal or relieve a different ailment, injury, or mood.

Thaddeus! shouted one of the younger gnomes—Lily? Rose?—and he was immediately swarmed by the entire brood.

Thaddeus laughed as he tried to hug each of them without stepping on any toes.

Oh, Thaddeus, good morning, Miriam said as she entered the kitchen. Children, leave Thaddeus alone. You’re going to get his nice clothes all dirty with your grubby hands. Go and wash up, all of you. Go on, now, shoo!

The group of gnomes ran out of the room, pushing and tripping each other amid shouts and laughter. When they were alone in the kitchen, Miriam approached him and straightened out his clothes with tsking sounds and a shake of her head.

She stepped back and smiled. You look very handsome.

Thanks. Is Teofil here?

Miriam rolled her eyes and threw up her hands before she turned away. He’s where he always is these days, up in that stuffy library of Leo’s. Flora knows what he’s getting into up there.

As Thaddeus left the kitchen, Miriam called after him. Don’t you stay too long and make yourself late for school now, do you hear me?

I won’t!

Thaddeus ran up the winding, creaky wooden steps to the third floor, arriving out of breath and a little overheated. The steps led to a small square foyer. Three doors opened off this foyer, each one a different color and all of them closed. A single bare bulb in a fixture set high into the ceiling provided the only illumination. The voices of the Rhododendron children on the floor below floated up the stairs behind him, but besides that, a heavy silence lingered in the hallway.

The door directly across from the stairs was painted a rich burgundy, and the brass doorknob was shiny enough to reflect some of the overhead light. Thaddeus crossed the foyer, grasped the cool brass knob, and opened the door.

Bookshelves crowded the room. They stood back-to-back in staggered rows, like a library, and titles of all different sizes and thicknesses lined the shelves. A single round window set into the wall across from the door allowed a view down to the front yard and the street far below. The aroma of vanilla mixed with almonds, both lightly overlaid with the smell of paper mold, rolled over him. It was the perfume of old books, and one of Thaddeus’ favorite smells. He lingered in the doorway long enough to draw a deep breath, savoring the fragrance before he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Teofil?

Thaddeus? Teofil’s voice floated to him from the other side of the room. What are you doing here?

Where are you? Thaddeus asked as he walked down one of the aisles between shelves of books.

Toward the back. Follow my voice. Keep walking.

Thaddeus found Teofil seated in a wooden chair with arms curving around from the back. A book lay open on a small table before him, with more books stacked alongside and on the floor at his feet. Light spilled from a tiny lamp standing atop the books piled on the floor. Teofil’s thick, blond hair was mussed and needed to be washed, while dark shadows marred the skin beneath his big, blue eyes. Though he looked very tired, Teofil’s smile sent a flutter of happiness through Thaddeus.

Did you sleep at all last night? Thaddeus asked.

Teofil looked surprised. It’s morning?

Yes! Thaddeus gestured back down the aisle toward the window out of Teofil’s line of sight. The sun is up. I’m off to school.

Teofil’s eyes widened, and he jumped out of his chair and grabbed Thaddeus’ hands. I forgot it’s your first day! I’m so sorry!

Thaddeus smiled. It’s all right. We haven’t seen each other very much these last few days, and I wanted to see you before I left for school.

I’m sorry, I’ve been busy reading through Leo’s books.

Yeah, looks that way. Thaddeus stepped around Teofil to peer at the pages of the open book. The writing was very small and crowded the page. The thought of all the hours Teofil must be spending up in this stuffy room reading this tiny print made Thaddeus’ head hurt. Is this a journal or something?

It is, Teofil replied. He came up behind Thaddeus and put his arms around his waist to pull him up against his chest. I’ve missed you.

Thaddeus closed his eyes and leaned back against him as he rested his hands over Teofil’s. I’ve missed you, too. Have you been locked away up here the entire time?

Not the whole time. Mum’s been making me eat dinner downstairs with everyone.

Thaddeus chuckled as he imagined Miriam badgering Teofil.

When will you be home? Teofil asked, nuzzling Thaddeus’ neck.

That tickles, Thaddeus said as he pulled away. His laugh faded when he turned and saw Teofil’s serious expression. What is it? What’s wrong?

Teofil hesitated a moment, then shrugged before looking at Thaddeus. I guess I’m mad at myself for sitting up here reading these last few days when we didn’t have much time left to spend together.

Thaddeus frowned. You make it sound so dire. I’m only going to school, Teofil. I’ll be home after three.

It will seem like forever.

Teofil stepped close and kissed him. The resulting shiver that went through Thaddeus made him realize how much he’d missed their time together. He returned the kiss, then stepped back. I’ll be back home before you know it. And I really do need to go.

I hope it goes well, Teofil said. Are you nervous?

Thaddeus had been nervous, but Teofil’s kiss seemed to have smothered that feeling with a warm glow of satisfaction and love. It comes and goes. I’ve done this a lot, so I think I’m prepared for it. He hesitated before lowering his voice. But this time feels different than all the others.

Teofil took his hands again. This time you’re starting school as a wizard.

Yeah. It adds a different layer of… I don’t know…. Complexity, I guess? Another secret I have to keep from everyone. Not only am I gay, I can do magic, too. And while I’m happy I know the truth about my heritage and have learned some amazing abilities, it also makes me even more of an outsider, you know?

I can’t imagine, Teofil replied. Hopefully, you remember I’ll be right here waiting for you to come home.

Thaddeus! Miriam’s loud voice echoed up the steps and into the library. You must leave now!

And so will my family, Teofil said. They grinned at each other.

I see that, Thaddeus replied and chuckled. He gave Teofil a final quick kiss before heading toward the door, calling over his shoulder, Go downstairs and eat something, and then get some sleep.

I will.

Thaddeus hurried down the steps to the first floor and wound his way around the children in the living room. He walked past the older kids eating breakfast at the dining room table, through the kitchen where Miriam and Astrid, Teofil’s older sister, were finishing up breakfast and Rudyard, Teofil’s father, stood sipping tea from a mug.

See you all later! Thaddeus said with a wave, and they wished him luck.

He banged out the back door and trotted down the steps to the trampled down grass. Grabbing his backpack off the ground, he took hold of his bike and headed toward the gate. It had closed behind him, and he smiled as he waved his hand while he ran. The warm flow of magic traveled through him, and the gate flung open. He’d been practicing different spells over the last couple of weeks and thought he was getting pretty good at a number of them.

When he was out of the yard, Thaddeus jumped on his bike and pedaled around the corner of the fence. He flicked his fingers over his shoulder and heard the solid thump of the gate closing behind him. He rode down the driveway into the street, aiming his bike toward Superstition High School and the start of his sophomore year.

Chapter Two

Superstition High was like every other school Thaddeus had attended. The same brick exterior walls, painted cinderblock interior walls, and waxed tile floors. The same clamor of slamming lockers, mobile phone text message alerts, and shouted greetings and insults. His first day of school always started this same way. All of this looked and felt so very familiar to Thaddeus as he shouldered a path through the hallway crowded with strange faces. He could practically pick out the kids who would soon find a way to bully him. It was always the same old song and dance.

The only thing different this time was him.

His experiences over the summer had changed him. He felt it, and he knew his father had seen it in him as well. This year, everything happening around him may be starting out like all the other years before it, but things were going to be very different. Thaddeus would see to that.

A boy with wide shoulders stood in the middle of the hallway. Students flowed to either side of him like water around an immovable stone. The boy was handsome with short blond hair, blue eyes, and a big, bright smile. He flaunted his strong arms with a tight-fitting polo shirt. He was talking to a pretty girl with her brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. She laughed at something the boy said and put a hand on his chest, directly over his heart. They looked like an advertisement for homecoming king and queen. Another stocky boy walked past and called out, Hey, Dixon! Hey, Joy!

Dude! Dixon shouted back, giving the boy a high five as Joy shook her head and smiled.

Thaddeus rolled his eyes and moved into the flow of kids going around the couple. A strong hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. Before Thaddeus could even turn his head to see who had grabbed him, he was pushed up against the lockers. A shadow fell over him, and he grimaced as his right shoulder pressed hard against the metal locker and the hand tightened on his left.

Did I see you roll your eyes?

Looking up into Dixon’s cold blue eyes, Thaddeus wondered why every bully in every school he had attended looked the same. Did they come out of some weird duplicating machine?

What? Thaddeus asked.

Fingers tightened on his shoulder. You heard me, new-kid freak.

If I did roll my eyes, it wasn’t about you. Thaddeus stared back at Dixon without flinching, no matter how much his shoulders hurt. He fought to keep in check the warm magic that wanted to flow out of him and toss the boy across the hall. Ungifteds weren’t aware of the magical beings that lived among them, and Thaddeus didn’t want to be the one who revealed the well-kept secret.

Dixon, come on, said his pretty girlfriend, Joy. Don’t get in trouble on our first day.

Yeah, asswipe, get to stepping, said a boy who had stopped to watch. How would a suspension look when you apply for football scholarships?

What did you say to me? Dixon asked, shifting his stare to the boy but continuing to press Thaddeus against the locker. Joy, did you hear this little shit talk back to me?

Come on, Joy said. Leave these fags alone before Winslow makes one of his patrols.

The boy who had challenged Dixon widened his eyes and laughed. Fags? He looked at Thaddeus. Is that one of the laziest insults you’ve ever heard?

Dixon pointed at the boy who had challenged him. I catch you outside school, you’re dead. He leaned in closer to Thaddeus. Watch your attitude, new kid. He pushed himself off Thaddeus’ shoulder with a hard shove and waded through the students who had gathered to watch. Many of them put their smartphones back in their pockets, looking disappointed there hadn’t been a fight they could capture on video and post all over social media.

Thanks for saying something, Thaddeus said as he rubbed his shoulder where he could still feel the pressure of Dixon’s fingers. You didn’t have to do that, though.

The boy shrugged. No problem. Us normal-sized guys have to stick together, am I right? He grinned, displaying a narrow gap in his front teeth. He had curly red hair, a galaxy of freckles across his nose and cheeks, and dark brown eyes. Anyway, that’s my locker he had you up against.

Oh. Thaddeus stepped aside. Sorry.

No problem. You new here, too?

Thaddeus gave him a quick smile. Yeah. You are, too?

That I am. The boy stuck out his hand. Andy Harkin.

Thaddeus shook with him. Andy’s hand felt cool and dry. Thaddeus Cane.

Good to make your acquaintance, Thaddeus Cane. Andy turned away to open his locker. Where’d you move from?

Another small town in the middle of nowhere, Thaddeus replied. How about you?

Same. Andy grinned. We could start a club. Maybe go around and light some trash cans on fire and leave evidence pointing back to Dixon.

Thaddeus blinked in surprise at the dark turn the conversation had taken, but the thought of it made him grin. That’s a little extreme, don’t you think?

Yeah, you’re right. Andy thought a moment. Maybe plant a gun in his locker?

Andy’s harsh laugh surprised Thaddeus, and he didn’t know what to say in response, so he remained silent. Despite the tendency to dip into dark humor—or maybe because of it—Thaddeus liked Andy.

Thanks for sticking up for me, Thaddeus said. You know you’re on that guy’s list now too, right?

Andy shrugged as he stuffed books into his locker. "I’ve been on worse lists than his, trust me. And he’s probably been hit in