An African Wizarding World Story

Chapter 4 - The Brother

I thought it through so many times but under no condition can I do it on my own, I needed help and at the very least Graham's lizard. Even if I don’t want to trust anyone but if Rika is in this... is La? Who can I be sure is not involved? 

I was pretty sure Garth’s brother would not be involved in killing him. But was there a chance that he would? No, Graham is all sorts of things but not a murderer. And without waiting any longer I apparated to his house. I saw his car in front of the house and walked to the door but before I could get there Graham came out wand in hand. I froze not sure of his intentions but he relaxed and just shouted at me in frustration, “A heads up that you are on your way or making an appointment is polite you know.” I had not even considered how the death of his brother affected him. “I’m sorry. I’m in need of your help.” I worded it so since it feeds on his need for self-importance. “What’s wrong?” He said while inviting me in. Des his wife was busy working on a plant that needed care with spells but was clearly not working since her voice sounded frustrated. “It’s about Garth...” I started explaining what had happened with Rika while walking up and down while concentrating so as not to leave anything out. Garth always needed all the information to make a decision so I thought Graham would be the same. Boy was I mistaken... when I was done, graham just stared at me with crossed arms. 

After a while, he finally said, “What kind of book is this?” I hesitated but replied, “I’m not sure, all I know is that it’s powerful enough to kill for.” “We should get it before they do.” Shocked, I responded without thinking, “No, we should not.” “We cannot allow that power to fall into their hands, Alicia.” “Well, they haven’t found it for this long if we leave it alone they still won’t find it.” “No, we need it to protect ourselves and use it to overpower them.”

And there it was, he wanted the book to gain power. I paused and reconsidered this whole idea of asking him for help. 

Having him part of this is a really bad idea. But now he knows everything. It was too late. Now what, how could I salvage this? If this book does exist I can not let anyone find it. I needed them far away from any of this. When I looked back up Des had walked closer and was keenly interested in this conversation and her eyes had power-l**t screaming out of them, she was not going to change Graham’s mind. Her face showed she craved this power too. 

Just then behind her is saw the blue gecko. The truth. I needed the truth. 

An idea sparked.

“If I bring anyone with me to Rika, she is going to be suspicious but if I go alone, stun her and put your gecko thing on her she will be forced to tell me the truth, right? How does the gecko work?” “It’s a ****** and it’s a bit more complicated than that. For instance, it will force you to answer the question and for it to be truthful but it will be the truth according to them and if they are clever enough they can find a way of keeping information from you. Just like truth serum. I have never used it in an interrogation so there might also be things I don’t know about.” I needed it as I was sure the unexpected victim would not know how to work their selves out of saying the truth. “So can I use it?” “Sure but I want the book in return.” He wanted power desperately. So I lied, “Ok, fine I will give you the book if it is found.”

He paused and examined my face for lies but I think my blank expression gave me away. “No, you are going to find it and give it to me.” “Graham, it’s your brother. Someone killed your brother for this book. Are you not even slightly upset about that?” “He is dead and gone. We are alive, very much here and that’s all that matters. And to keep ourselves alive we need protection with the best spells. The book can do this.” I stared at him, studying how someone could be so self-absorbed. My look of disgust said it all so he went on, “I want revenge as much as you do and if you are too scared to use it, I will get revenge for you using the book.” I no longer doubted what he wanted the book for and there was no way of changing his mind. I just stood there, disgusted.

He didn’t want the book to protect us. That was a lie, whether it was a lie he believed himself I wasn’t sure.

But I needed the lizard.

“So can I have the lizard then?” I repeated my question trying to move away from the idea of the book. “It’s a Gecko and yes, you can have it. Once you promised.” I froze which gave me away. And Des said the dreadful words that all wizards feared, “An unbreakable vow” Graham was too keen for this and jumped in, “Des can cast it for us.” Now I had no choice. For the few minutes that I had to make this decision before they could think of more ideas to trap me in even more than I already was, I had to jump at it now and think on my feet. “Ok. Des, do you know how?” I was hoping both of them didn’t know how but she nodded, “It’s one of my family’s specialty.” Then I thought of how her family had gotten their riches and I shuddered knowing it wasn’t on hard work.

Graham held out his hand as to shake mine and I took it. Des started, “Alicia, do you promise to find and give Graham the book in exchange for the Gecko?” She said in exchange so that means I get to keep the gecko? I wasn’t about to start asking questions to give away my thought process of looking for a loophole. So I just answered, “Yes” Her wand spun a gold thread that wove around our hands and tied a knot. I could feel the thread tightening around my skin forcing me to never forget that it is there. Uncomfortable but bearable.

When I looked up at Graham his eyes smiled with malice knowing that he has trapped me into this. All the while I was thinking if this price was not too steep for Garth’s justice.

My expression of defeat said it all so Des broke the silence, “The gecko just have to be put onto the person and it will basically stick to you until you take him off.” She was walking to the gecko’s small dirty cage, only then did I realize that it was not the happy blue color it was at the park. “What happened to him?” “Oh, he gets like this, stupid thing.” I felt terrible for it as I took him from her hands. “He is so much work, I am glad we getting rid of him.” She added, thus I gathered that he is mine for good. “What is his name?” Graham chirped up, “We didn’t give the stupid thing a name. He doesn’t respond to anything so we keep him in the cage and just feed him.” At this stage, with my new animal collection, I was going to need a book on how to properly take care of all of them. Des handed me the cage and I felt bad for putting him back into it but for now, I will have too till I get home. “Thanks for the help,” It said without trying to sound sarcastic or spiteful. But it sure didn’t sound genuine.

Graham just smiled gratified and showed me to the door. As I got across the street and turned back to their house it dawned on me that he never even suggested any other help with finding Garth's killer, just the book.

I got home and closed all the doors and windows and let the little guy out, he looked bewildered but ran up the wall and sat in corner of the lounge. I cleaned out his cage and placed a new newspaper in the corner in case he needed bedding but I wasn't sure what he needed and once again hat to write a letter explaining my predicament to Jared. He responded keenly and explained everything he needed from eating correctly to bedding and its cage. He even suggested a great book his great grandfather wrote called "Growls and Howls Magical Creature Care" by Berken Steyn. They really love that name. 

Turns out they hunt by themselves and eat mostly ants, small spiders and worms and since my house was always crawling with ants he would be ok for now. The day had been long and I needed quiet time to think about what I have done and if there was a way out of the mess I created. Rooibos tea and some sleep would be a good idea but just before I head to bed I close the owl into her cage, the last thing I need is for my gecko to be eaten. 

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I slump into a stupor, and the nightmares instantly start overflowing one another. From Garth dying in a flash of green to Graham laughing at my anguish and Des spinning new vows around me while Rika keeps asking for the book. I woke up at a fright and sighed once I calmed down at my muddled thoughts. 

I try to organize them. From who to trust, who not to trust, what information I have, and what I don't have. "Alicia, If this is going to work we will need to know more on the gecko..." After a long pause, I add, "Tomorrow we go book shopping"