Prologue
The last time Jennifer Thorpe saw the witch was during her vacation with her parents. She noticed her smiling, as the cold, London weather dampened her mood. 'Mother, where're you?', she asked. She grabbed her coat. It was raining heavier than ever. She opened the front door with her small, left hand. The lamps illuminated the street. Jennifer frowned.
Witches, and wizards, were gliding past her.
She gasped in surprise.
None of her family could see the magic folk.
Yet she could.
Jennifer backed away from the rain.
Then they disappeared.
***
Jennifer looked at the wizards.
'Mum, can you see them? The magic people', she asked her.
'Don't be silly, Jennifer', Anne Thorpe, her mother, answered.
'Where's Dad?'.
'Working in the Office'.
'Oh, right. Can I explore London?'.
'We can go shopping together. It's Saturday'.
'Great!', Jennifer smiled.
***
The drive to London went without problems.
Jennifer saw the witches again.
She didn't want to tell her Mother and Father because they'd laugh at her. They didn't believe; they never believed. Jennifer looked at the windows of the car. They were foggy; the windscreen wipers went left to right. Once it lifted, she saw Bert's Department Store.
'We can have something to eat, and drink, afterwards', Anne said.
'I'd like that, Mum'.
'Good, now let's go to the Restrooms. Then we can look at the places we like'. Jennifer noticed a witch going to a Pub. She didn't want to go there. A sign read: The Lost Witches. As her Mother disappeared, Jennifer went inside. Inside, there were robed witches, and wizards. On their heads were magical hats; on their feet were boots of various colors. 'Can I help you?', a middle-aged witch asked politely. 'Oh, yes, I am Jennifer Thorpe. And I came to London with my Mum. And I saw witches...and wizards...'.
'How old are you dear child?'.
'Eight', she said.
'I'm Francine Gorman'.
'Please to meet you'.
'Francine, will you must teach our daughter ancient magic. She is rather tired...'. Frederick Gorman, her husband, said.
'This is Jennifer Thorpe. She can see us'.
'Impossible'.
'But, she saw us!', Francine uttered.
'Where's your parents?'.
'Mother is in the Restroom...'.
'That's a human place, dear for privacy', Francine said.
'I see. I don't care about human places'.
'My husband is old fashioned, and set in his ways'.
'I see. Grandpa is the same'.
'Oh'.
'Yes, he gets me socks'.
'And nothing else...'.
'Oh, books. I enjoy reading'.
'So do I. We have a Library in the middle of the Pub. You can read them once you're a Member of the Pub. You're a witch'.
'Am I?'.
'Yes, you saw us. Only a true magical girl...and boy...can come here. I do suggest the Library section; the Pub isn't for younger witches'.
'I see. I'll-'.
'Jennifer!'.
'It's Mum. I'll come back soon. Good bye, Francine'.
'Good bye, Jennifer'.
Jennifer opened the doors, and waved at her.
And they went shopping.
***
Bert's Department Store was full of bright colors. The word: Sale was outside...and inside. Several families went there. 'Isn't it boring, Mum'. Jennifer looked at the girl toys, Barbie from America, and books. She wasn't impressed. Yet. A British-American black Department Manager appeared. On his right breast of his blue jumper were the name: Bert Manning-Manager.
'Are you lost, Ma'am, Miss?'.
'No. My daughter wants some books for the festive holidays'.
'We have C S Lewis, Harry Potter, J R R Tolkien, Roald Dahl books'.
'We'll get The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, and the Harry Potter Box Set, please, in paperback', Anne said. She took out her Debit credit card, and paid for the books.
'Thanks, Mother'.
She smiled, as it started to snow in London.
***
Chapter One
The Wizard watched everyone.
'We have a new witch. Her name is...Jennifer Thorpe. And she's eight'.
'Eight'.
'She saw us'.
'But, she is human'.
'Yes, and she is one of the witches'.
'A new witch, Roman'.
'That is true. She went into the Pub as if she belonged there. She was interested in the Library of Lore'.
'Where is she, Edwina?'.
'Shopping with her Mother'.
'I see. We'll take care of this important matter', Roman said.
He illuminated his wand in the London sky, as it started to rain.
It was Christmas Eve, 2019.
***
Jennifer watched the rain.
'Let's go to the cafeteria'.
'Okay'.
As Jennifer sat down on a chair, she saw three wizards. They wore strange red hats on their heads; they were intense in their thoughts, that was deep. All of them wore black mittens, as the rain became stronger. Wild winds blew into London Town, creating mass hysteria, as a BBC media van stopped. A female reporter said: 'For the festive season, savage winds have blown into London from Yorkshire. Daniel Ball, the Minister for the Environment, and Weather, said: "We want everyone to be inside until the stormy winds blow over". In other news, Dominic Westcott, the Prime Minister, was ill today from the flu, and is at home for the next week'...Jennifer shook her head, then she waved her hands at the witches, and wizards, before she ran to the car, with her Mother.
***
The car arrived at Number 57 Steel Road.
'Dad', Jennifer said.
The front door was open.
His body fell into the hallway.
'Dad!', Jennifer yelled.
'He's had a seizure', Anne said.
She called 999, and asked for an Ambulance.
It was five minutes before the paramedics arrived, and took him to London Memorial Hospital.
***
Doctor Archer May, Head of Epilepsy, walked to Jennifer and Anne, who were in the Waiting Room. 'Is my husband alright, Doctor?', Anne asked him.
'There was some bleeding on the brain, with a seizure. He could've died. But he'll live; he'll recover in a day or two, because of of the internal pressure he suffered from. Thank you for calling for an Ambulance. If you'd left it any longer, he'd be in much more pain', Doctor May answered.
'Can we see him?'.
'Yes, but he is semi-unconscious. Once the drugs wear off, he'll be fine'.
'Thank you'.
'I'll be attending to other patients. Contact Eloise at Reception. She'll page me'. He walked away, and Anne as well as Jennifer knew that it would be a long time before they'd leave the Hospital.
***
Jennifer went to the Restroom.
The human World was different from the magical place she went to. She decided to visit the Library when her visit was over, and made sure her Dad was better. Her Mother would be happier, as she closed the Ladies' Restroom, and closed the door behind her.
***
After seeing her father, Jennifer was crying.
'It's alright, Dad'.
He was breathing on a machine.
A nurse smiled at her.
'He's doing fine, sweetie'.
'Will he be fine?', she asked her.
'Yes', she answered.
'Thank you. If he died...'.
'He won't be dead. I'm Jane'.
'Jennifer'.
'You're a bright girl, Jennifer. Do you want to spend time with your father?'.
'Yes'.
And she opened the door to Room 32a, and went inside.
***
'Dad'.
He was breathing.
Jennifer was crying.
A nurse smiled at her.
'Are you okay?'.
'Yes'.
'I'm Karen'.
'Jennifer. Will Dad be alive?'.
'Yes, do you want something to eat, or drink?'.
'Yes, I'll want two sandwiches, and some Iced Tea'.
'I'll get it', Karen said.
Then she smiled as Jennifer gave her twenty dollars.
***
The shadows of the room deepened.
'Jennifer'.
'Yes'.
'It's going to be okay'.
'Will it, Mum'.
'Yes'.
Then her husband died, and the machine beeped, before it flatlined.
***
Jennifer opened the door.
'I'm going for a walk, Mum'.
'Fine. I'll be ringing the caretaker for the funeral'.
'Okay'.
And she hugged her, as she walked down the hallway.
Then she saw a portal door was open.
She tumbled into the swirling void, and vanished into the darkness.
***
The bottom of the room was cold.
Jennifer saw figures near the fireplace.
She focused on the grey chair.
'What is this place?', she asked a woman.
'Thyme's Arches', she answered.
'I'm Jennifer Thorpe'.
'You came through Todd's Portal'.
'Did I?'.
'Yes, it is a simple magic portal. Others are more advanced'.
'My Dad died in hospital. I was walking in a hall, and I fell. Mum will be waiting for me when I get home'.
'You'll be home, dear. I'm Liz Collard'.
'You're French?'.
'I was born in Paris. I came to London, England, when I was ten with my parents. At eighteen, I moved to New York in America. I met my husband, Elias, there. Come with me to the Library'.
'Okay', Jennifer said.
And she smiled.
***
Chapter Two
The Library doors opened.
Jennifer stared at the warm fireplace.
'How weird?', she asked Liz.
'It is', Liz answered.
'Please take a seat. The others will come soon'.
'Others'.
'The other wizards, and witches'.
'Oh, I see'.
And Jennifer relaxed, and yawned before she went to sleep.
***
Jennifer watched the wizards reading their spell books.
'Excuse me, where's the Archaic Books?'.
'In there', a boy answered.
'Thank you. I'm Jennifer'.
'Greg'.
'Have you been here long?'.
'No. An hour...or most'.
'I see'.
'And you?'.
'Just arrived. I can perform magic spells'.
'Can I see one spell?'.
'Yes'.
She closed her eyes, and uttered a spell.
Everyone gasped, as bright colors were in the air, and it started to rain inside the Library.
Then it disappeared, and the room was warm again.
And the witches, and wizards, cheered.
***
Chapter Three
The room was full.
Jennifer smiled as she was talking to other boys, and girls.
She read a book, and made some English wizard tea.
Then she yawned as she fell asleep again.
***
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