"You will remain in your seat until your name is called, you will follow Mr Richmond" Mr Payne gestured to his right and a tall man standing by a corner. "you will find 8 tables each with a single sword hilt laid out on a stand, each represents an element that will be obvious, step up to the element you think you are affiliated with, grab the hilt at arm's length... if your magic matches the element a sword will appear, hold it aloft, take your minute of happiness then put it down and move on... if it does not, put the hilt back on the stand and move to another table until you get your match... first up" Suddenly the room went tense. I sat up a bit straighter. "Antonia Brown." A small brown-haired girl stood up a few rows ahead of me, and a gaggle of girls and women cheered as she walked towards Mr. Richmond. Her mum left not long after she did and then a minute later the project screen came to life with a bright light, it killed all the noise in the gym. The word ICE came across the projector screen and then the screen turned off, a round of cheers rippled around the crowd and ice mages held their hand in the air and fired some bursts of ice that disappeared after a few seconds.

"Alvin wood" a round boy stood away to our right and shuffled his way to the door and moments later, the word earth came on the projector screen and this pattern continued.

"Lauren Lotis" earth

"Craig Potter" fire, Dad let out his fire with that one.

"Gavin West" wind.

"Charlotte Barrington Bennett" I'm paying attention now, Charlotte stood up, with her father, and cheers and claps came from a group of rich-looking kids with her. Moments later, water!

Kevin left before I did, He smiled at me when he stood up and said "Wish me luck" then put his fist out for a fist bump.

"Good luck," I said and gave him a fist bump, Marvin stepped over my legs and ruffled my hair as he did. Moments later. Lighting. Both Dad and I cheered loudly. "He thought he would get lightning," I told Dad.

"I thought he would, to be honest, how are you feeling? Nervous?"

"Not really but I wouldn't mind it hurrying up" Dad giggled at that.

"You and me both. My bum is going numb."

I waited half an hour until my name got called. "Charles King" Once again the room fell silent, but it felt different this time, maybe because it was me standing up and walking to the door and I was not watching it happen or it might be because I could see people whispering my name then my mum and dads name. I made my way to the door I decided to walk without looking at people seeing people mouth my name was weird. I got to the door and walked through; Dad stayed at the entrance of it.

"Good luck," he said and then waved me on. I turned and headed down the white narrow corridor. At the head were wooden double doors and in front of them stood and really short woman, one long braid thrown over her shoulder, wearing a traditional African dress I think, when she spoke her accent made me think I was right. it was a thick Nigerian one, one of my old teachers in my old school was Nigerian so I can tell.

"Pass through the door when you are ready." She said. "One hilt at a time until the sword appears, got it?"

"Yes miss" I took a deep breath and put my hands on the door and pushed. Beyond the door was a gloomy field. A football pitch with eight tables in the middle, I had a quick look around as I walked towards the tables, there was nothing around, trees in every direction. Why would they have a football pitch in the middle of nowhere, I turned to see the door I came from was gone too. the tables were shaped in a curve. Each table had a hilt of a sword held up by two metal rods holding it up and easy to grab, underneath had a magical letter glowing brightly describing the magical element. On the left was fire, no place better to start with.

I stepped forward and eyed the red letters spelling the word "fire" and then the silver sword hilt lying there, I picked it up and held it aloft, nothing happened, I put it back down and picked it back up again. Guess I'm not a fire mage, disappointed riffled through me, but then the thought of water like mum? I walked over to the water table that was two tables away. I picked up the silver hilt again and nothing happened, another pang of disappointment surged through me. Guess I better start picking up hilts and see what I get I don't have a preference now. I walked back in between the fire and water tables to the ice one, but nothing happened. Next up earth?... nope. The wind was a no-go too. maybe lightning like Kevin and Marvin. I picked it up and held it above my head, I even closed my eyes hoping for the best. I put the lightning hilt back down after nothing happened again. Two left, light and dark. I walked to the light table seemed like the better choice, I groaned to myself after slamming the hilt down I didn't mean to do it that hard. I stepped over to the dark table, I didn't see the point of this, no dark mage had appeared in an incredibly long time but at least I could say I tried all of them and nothing happened, I picked it up and lifted it off the stand, instantly a blade shot out of it. Light enveloped the gloomy pitch, my eyes left the sword, all the trees were gone and stands of people staring at me in complete silence.

Two loud cracks burst behind me, and Mum and Dad stood there, looking determined "Close your eyes" Mum commanded. I did what I was told without even thinking about it. Mum and Dad grabbed my arms, and I felt a strange pulling sensation from my arms and my feet left the ground, my head spun like I was on a rollercoaster and then suddenly my feet hit the solid floor, I opened my eyes, dropped the sword, and vomited everything that I had eaten that month. Thankfully, there was a well-placed bucket in front of me.

"It's okay sweetie, get it all up," Mum said rubbing my back as I continued to hurl into the bucket. I was able to stand up straight and look around me, Dad was sitting on the edge of a desk and an older blonde woman was sitting on a high back chair behind the desk, I think it must be her office, old photos on the wall with weapons underneath, a cabinet full of strange items, other chairs were in the corner. More cabinets full of items on the other side of the room too, how much stuff does she need?

"Feeling, okay?" Mum asked. I nodded my head; I wasn't 100% sure if I did open my mouth more vomit wouldn't come out.

"Charles this is Headmistress Simmons," Dad said gesturing to women across the desk. I took her in, she radiated power. Blonde hair to her shoulder, small diamond earrings barely visible, green eyes, looked me over, red lips and red nails her hands together on the desk, she has on a white shirt without a crinkle in it.

"Take a seat when you're feeling up to it," she said with a soft tone, pointing at one of two chairs close to me. "We can discuss what just happened when you do" I took the seat as soon as I could I wanted to know myself, a dark mage? Me? Dad stayed where he was, and Mum took a seat next to me, Miss Simmons snapped her fingers and the vomit bucket got swallowed by the floor.

"Now then, a dark mage, very rare indeed. But I bet you're wondering why you're here instead of being around all the others who had taken their reveal test today?" I nodded my head, it was exactly what I was thinking so now she had pointed it out, I didn't speak I wanted her to explain more first. "Your father picked up on something the other day, involving yourself and the grimoires your grandparents had bought." I snapped my neck to look at Dad he looked guilty.

"I couldn't say anything, you would have been worrying about it all weekend, it would be written all over your face at least this way you could enjoy everything without that hanging over your head." I wanted to be mad that he didn't tell me but that did make sense, I would have been worried.

"When your father noticed it, he informed your mother and they both informed me, as it's such a rare thing and given its history, we made some plans to bring you here straight away so we could talk, firstly about the history of Dark mages, you know some of it right."

"a little"

"I'll give a brief explanation of dark mages from the best of my knowledge" In the corner of my eye I saw Mum straighten up, she must respect Headmistress Simmons.

"Dark mages have a long and bloody history, known for being very powerful, some have tried to replicate their power and failed. This led to dark mages being feared and eventually hunted down and killed. Dark mages had to defend themselves and became known for being in rebellions every successful one has had at least a few dark mages apart of it, I'm sure your mother will know all this already."

"Mum has told me this much already."

"I'm not surprised" Simmons smiled. "There have been rumours of dark mages being revealed in recent history and this is the worrying part, they have either been killed or kidnapped" My stomach dropped. I wanted to be sick again. "Do not worry. This will not happen to you; I can promise you that! You are already high profile as I'm sure you have already gotten a lot of stares from onlookers today, nobody in their right mind will be silly enough, your mother and father are exceptional mages with a long list of accomplishments and that goes for the rest of your family too and even the guild they belong to and when you're here at my school... under my protection, not a soul will be able to get to you".

If an out-of-body experience was real that's how I feel, like I'm not sitting here being told this horrible news, trying to be reassured by my parents and soon-to-be headmistress. Numb might be a good word for how I am feeling.

"What do I do?" I asked openly anyone who wanted to answer it.

"You go on like what you would any other student of child your age, there is no difference between you and anyone else," Simmons said.

"What if someone does come to kill or kidnap me" Those words felt toxic to say.

"If someone does and I highly doubt it, they will be dealt with, you will have protection even when you don't expect it" That's good to know, but not helpful now I have to rely on someone else to save me just in case. "What I do expect is hesitation from people who don't know you that's all, they will be standoffish because it's unknown and they don't know you but from what I have been told about you that won't last long and everyone will forget all about it" I don't know if I believe that but what am I supposed to do, apart from get some fresh air that I am suddenly craving. Headmistress Simmons and Mum nodded to each other, and Mum stood up.

"Come on, Lincoln and Madison will be waiting, I'm sure they can't wait to see you." What would my siblings think about this, I stood up, looked around for a door and went to take a step before being stopped by Mum. "See you soon Ms. Simmons."

"See you soon Headmistress," Dad said and came around the other side of me.

"I'll see you at the start of school Charles," Simmons said.

"Close your eyes," Mum said. Oh god not again. My back was yanked away, and my feet left the ground, I'm gonna be sick this needs to end now. My feet hit the solid ground and instantly vomited again. This time a bucket hit my stomach and vomited into that.

"Oh, he doesn't like to transmit, does he?" A loud giggle came from a familiar voice, I could see from the corner of my eye it was Uncle Tommy in joggers and a white t-shirt before I hurled again. "That stinks, what have you two been feeding him?"

"Shut up" Mum barked back.

"Ay. I remember you when you first transmitted" Dad said, in a mocking tone, "he was sick for like 5 mins straight, and Uncle Tommy this is your nephew's second time doing it within half an hour".

"I guess I'll shut up then... still stinks though."

"That does stink," I said, when I eventually stopped vomiting, I rubbed my head and took a sit Dad slipped behind me. "Where are we?" I asked looking around me and saw a small room barely big enough for the four of us in here and the two chairs, the one that I am sitting on and the one that Tommy is sitting on.

"At the guild, this is a transmission room for anyone needing a safe spot to land in," Dad said, Tommy stayed here so we knew where we going, Tommy waved and smiled.

"Let's go down," Tommy said, pushing the chair back against the wall. Out of the side of the small room was a carpeted hallway with a door leading to both sides. Tommy leads the way down the hallway to a set of stairs, one going up and one down. At the bottom was another set that led to a training room, and the other to the main hall of the guild. I still felt sick and now I'm nervous, sinking stomach, like it was sailing the seas and hitting an iceberg. I hope the guild won't hate me for this. What would I do if they did? What would Mum and Dad do? Tommy opened the door and loud cheers rang out taking me by complete and utter surprise. Kevin came up to me beaming smile across his face, I swear I can see all of his teeth.

"a dark mage you kept that quiet, you could be the strongest guild member ever!"

"No chance," Tommy said, "never be stronger than me" he winked ruffled my hair and then left for the bar.

I'm so happy Mum and Dad are a part of this guild; everyone couldn't have been nicer.

"They will come for him... HA let them" one guy said I learned his name was Vincent Stanwell, "we will send them packing, come for one of us, come for all of us." He flexed his large muscles and then rubbed his bald head.

"We will be here for you" said another member a woman called Sarah Hepburn, a middle-aged woman with more rings than everyone in this room put together. I spent the next hour with everyone in the guild and was made to feel so much better, Lincoln and Madison didn't leave my side, and neither one mentioned the dark magic I don't think they knew how to talk or what to say but I didn't mind, it's just nice they don't care about it, unfortunately, we have to go shopping for school supplies but hilariously most of the guild wanted to come and had to be told no by the guild master who has been laughing at the member threatening to beat anyone up who is mean to me. It was decided that those who are related to the kids who need school supplies can go.

My family and Kevin's family had left together, there are other kids in the guild who go to the same school, but they are older and went with their own families. Dad told us we have to head for the transmission station and head to Winchester Road, that's where we will get the school supplies. Uncle Tommy couldn't come because he had something to do and wouldn't tell anyone what he was going to do.

Melting sun and cool breeze I can't think of a better duo. I had to leave my jacket in the guild now the weather was warmer, Mum promised us drinks when we got to where we were going. Kevin and I walked and discussed his lightning abilities.

"What do you think of blue lightning? Dad's is yellow, I might try and make mine blue if I can."

"Blue lightning sounds so cool, wonder if you can get different coloured flames?"

"Blue Fire? I like it" Kevin nodded, then held his fist out and demanded "blue" flicking his hand open.

"Seen some sparks then!" I told Kevin,

"Did you!" Kevin glowed with a positive energy but that didn't last long.

We headed into a transmission station and waited across from the ticket shop thing while Mum and Tracy got tickets. I felt more eyes on me now. I know the eyes are on me and not Dad because I have seen the word dark mage mouthed multiple times, and if that wasn't obvious,

"a dark mage?" spoke a middle-aged bald guy, in jeans and a tuck-in shirt. Dad and Marvin edged closer to me. "You know they are evil right?, killed loads of people, and started wars too" he raised his eyebrows like he was waiting for me to jump in, but I didn't know what he wanted me to say, I couldn't help what other people have done in the past or what I am now. "But we killed the dark mages eventually, when they got out of line, Remember that!"

"Remember this" Dad pricked up, Marvin and Kevin stepped back shielding their faces, "If you threaten my son again this fire mage will be the scariest thing you've ever seen in your life, your family's lives, your ancestors will come back alive just to tell you what a bad mistake you have made, as I burn everything you love down".

The bald guy went pale! as pale as his white shirt. Sweat beads trickled down his face.

"Something wrong here?" Mum said coldly behind the bald guy, he turned around slowly and then turned back to Dad, then looked at me and muffled something under his breath.

"Say it louder" Dad's tone was rough and demanding.

"Sorry," the bald guy said uncomfortably and left quietly.

"You didn't have to do that Dad," I said, "I was just going to ignore him."

"I was sending a message" Dad looked around onlookers who watched what happened, some even had their phones out. "Come on let's go" Dad nodded his head in the direction of the silver wall, which I have learned is called a portal. Kevin told me about the heat that came off Dad when he got angry and was surprised that I didn't feel anything, so we asked Mum about it,

"It's an emotional thing," she said, "magic is very personal, it will develop and evolve with you, and it will know who to protect from what's in your heart, that's why dad's magic didn't affect you"?

"I'm going to have to ask him why he doesn't love me or Dad" Kevin joked. And walked towards Dad and Tracy talking in front of us, we walked out of another station identical to the one close to home, and then came out into the blinding sun and waves of noise, from cars, people, and birds. This is by far the busiest street I have ever seen. Every shop was full, every coffee shop didn't have a spare seat.

"Is this Winchester Road?" I asked.

"No," Marvin said, "just a little further down the road."

We walked further down the road like Marvin said, moving in and out of strangers blocking the path. I changed my mind this is the busiest street I have ever seen. We came to a halt at traffic lights, and I could see Winchester Road across the street. Throw one apple into that street and you will hit ten people. No cars can go down that street not because it's so busy but because of the bollards blocking them. Market stalls ran down the middle of the road. Red lights came on the cars stopped and the green man signalled we could cross, and my mum grabbed my wrist quickly and let go instantly and left a blue ring on it.

"So, you don't get away from me" She walked off and my wrist followed her and pulled me along. Did she just link us? I'm not a child, I can stay close to her. No less than 10 seconds later we tried to push through a crowd, and I lost sight of Mum. Then my arm yanked and hurled me through the crowd.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," I said to people who had to stop because I stumbled past them. Mum was by a maroon-red shop. Madison Lincoln and Dad were there, Madison and Lincoln had red rings around their wrists.

"You got away from me" Mum raised her eyebrows; she knew I didn't like the ring around my wrist.

"Not for long" I joked.

"Dad and Lincoln need to go in here," Mum said.

"It's a fire mage shop" with a surprising amount of excitement in his voice. Mum had taken Madison's hand and replaced the red ring with a blue one.

"See you in a minute," Dad said kissed Mum and left into the shop with Lincoln. I looked into the shop and stepped after the heat from the shop slapped me in the face.

"Hot in there isn't it," Mum said knowingly.

"Why is it so hot?" I asked.

"a load of excited fire mages in one area, it's always like that."

"Are all the magic shops like this?" Madison asked. She took the words right out of my mouth. Mum thought about it for a moment.

"Ice shops are freezing obviously. Water ones aren't too bad, but you can slip on the floor, earth shops can sometimes have little stones or uneven flooring, they can sometimes make them accidentally or move the floor underneath. An electric?... handy place to go if you need fully charged batteries or anything like that. Wind...in weather like this greatest place to walk past for a fabulous cold breeze, what's left? OH light?... Ironically it is dark inside of it, I think it's because when they get excited, they light up a little, so it's easy for them to see, and finally."

Mum looked at me and smiled long and fully, "I've never seen a dark shop, I don't even know if they exist."

"What will we do?" I asked, and if I was honest, I didn't think about it, why would there be a dark shop? no one apart from me is a dark mage, it would be a silly business idea to start one,

"I have made some arrangements and so has Alex." Mum pointed behind me. I turned and saw my aunty standing there panting.

"I finally got here."

"Did you run here? why didn't you do that transmission thing?" I said.

"It's a long story sweetie" she said catching her breath. And handed Mum a letter, "You two must be warm?" She turned to Madison and me.

"I am actually," Madison said, I thought I was hot from the sun, but the heat from the shop was crazy too.

"Yeah, I'm boiling." Alex laughed and then put her hands on top of mine and Madison's head and oh my god the ice-cold feeling that drifted down was incredible. I forgot where I was for a moment.

"Oh my god! Are you Isabella King?" screeched a young blonde-haired girl she must be 20, I think.

" I am yes," Mum said smiling putting Alex's letter in her black bag that hung over her shoulder.

"Can I have a photo?" she asked jumping nervously on the spot, she asked a gaggle of girls behind her to use her phone for a photo and hopped and skipped over to Mum and posed next to her. Alex tugged both me and Madison to the side with her hand still cooling our heads.

"Thank you, thank you" The girl went back to her mates and asked to see the photo and instantly one of her friends asked for a photo too. Mum politely accepted. I suddenly felt hot around the left side of my face which was surprising since Aunty Alex was cooling me down, but I turned to see a shoulder-length dark-haired girl in the gaggle of girls staring at me. She then came closer, wearing a black tight skirt and black shirt with a few buttons open and sunglasses on her head.

"Are you that dark mage?" She sounded like she had a sore throat, I nodded my head. "Told you it was him" She spun around to the gaggle. "So, are you evil or what?" I felt Alex's grip around my head tightens.

"of course, he's not your air-headed idiot" Madison snapped, she might be twelve, her birthday is a week before mine, and Lincoln a week before hers, it's a very busy month for our family.

"All dark mages are evil don't you know" the sunglasses lady spoke, trying to talk down to Madison.

"Oh please, they are so strong people like you call them evil because you don't understand, keep talking and test him, let's see how far you get" I have never felt closer to my sister She might be my little sister, but she is smarter and more mature than for what anyone gives her credit. sunglasses looked surprised to be spoken to and subtly threatened her.

"Do you know who I am?" sunglasses glared at Madison and tried to stand taller and look down at Madison. Aunty Alex went to move forward but Madison stopped her with a sinister grim.

"I don't care, I am Madison King, my brother" she pointed at me, "the dark King, but his Real name is Charles King remember that and what you should be worried about, is my mother Isabella King and my aunty is Alexandra hill" my aunty was a teacher of kings born and Loki's troupe, a very famous but small guild they refuse to let anyone in who doesn't meet certain requirements. Sunglasses look like she knows exactly who my aunty and mum are.

"Isabella King's son is the dark mage, that's hilarious" Sunglasses chuckled and looked at her mates for backup, she didn't get it they looked away.

"he is my son" Mum looked about ready to kill, she stepped forward closer to her, and shook the hands of her friend who asked for a photo, "it was nice to meet, but I think it's time for you and your friends to go, I can't hold my daughter or sister-in-law back to long" I looked at my sister and aunty and didn't know what she meant until I looked down and saw ropes of water tying the ankles of the two of them to the floor. "One more word about my son, and everyone will pay." Sunglasses friends pulled her by the arms, said nervous "byes," walked into the crowds by the markets, and disappeared.

"Just sending a message," Mum said calmly and winked. I don't know what they mean by message and who was supposed to be getting the message but that was formidable. I love the women in my life.

Dad and Lincoln came out a few minutes later, arms full of bags. "Everything alright?"

Mum nodded happily, "We're good" Dad frowned he looked like he didn't believe her for a second. but he didn't argue, and we left and merged back into the crowd and past more brightly coloured shops, electric yellow for the electric shop duh, Kevin must have gone in there with his dad. Lincoln showed me some of the items he got. a sword hilt for training, many fire spell books, fire mage clothing, fireproof so they don't burn. The crowd around us started to slow down and began to stare at us again. I don't know if it is Mum and Dad or me. For better or for worse I decided to ignore them and act like I didn't even notice them. my wrist tugged around the mark Mum had left on me and waited and walked into a group that had stood still and watched us, they disappeared towards a market that sold toffee animals, they wandered around the store until someone bought one, I saw a rabbit, cat, a, and a small dog before it was out of sight, and we came to the front of a shop called. "Alvin's Animals" is a completely black shop with patches of paint worn down and bars down the windows.

Dad ran up the steps and pushed open the double doors. I followed and was greeted by a zoo. A pen with piglets snorting out ice cubes. Parrots beatboxing, elephants the size of puppies, a large fish tank in the middle of the shop that had sharks the size of goldfish chasing around wind-up boats.

"HELLO!" yelled a jolly voice from somewhere in the shop, and then the man from which the voice came appeared. In baggy jeans and a coloured shirt tucked into it. Wirey grey hair on the side of his head, nothing on top.

"Hey Alvin," Dad said holding his hand out, "it's been a while".

"Far too long, far too long," Alvin said in a shockingly posh voice. After taking Dad's hand. "Here for Jackson's dog food?"

"I am yeah," Dad said. Lincoln wandered over to the sharks. Madison was leaning over to pet the elephants.

"An incredible dog, he is" Alvin eyed me then squinted, "Speaking of dogs can I borrow him" Did he just call me a dog? I snapped my neck to look at dad who lips pursed holding back a laugh.

"What for?" Dad asked, he coughed first and hit his chest, so he didn't giggle in Alvin's face.

"I have a... special dog, he doesn't respond well to anyone".

"So, you want to throw Charles at it?" Dad sounded judgy, then he looked at me and then back to Alvin, "Sounds good let's do it".

"No!" I said stepping back. Giving my dad a look that screamed why?

"It's not like he's in the cage I just need you to stand on the other side" Alvin said reassuringly.

"Did you know that's what he meant?" I demanded of Dad.

"Yeah, I've been in the back before," he said griming like an evil idiot.

"Why?" I asked.

Dad shrugged his shoulders and said "Funny". He then told Mum, who had scooped up the elephant now, what was happening, she didn't look too pleased, but she didn't object. I looked at Alvin and he gave me a goofy grin and I laughed and smiled. He seemed nice, and I couldn't sense anything mean about him. Dad came back and we followed Alvin the shop, past snakes that hiccupped and shoot themselves across their cage, spiders glowing like a flashlight in their dark cages, and rabbits that farted out brown bubbles, I got close to one when it popped and I nearly hurled on the devil creature, where did that smell come from? and what died inside of that rabbit. We went through a door and down a tiny corridor and spiral steps, I could hear Mum, Lincoln and Madison behind.

"Those rabbits stink!" Madison proclaimed. She is right though.

"This is where I keep the more dangerous of my animals or ones that I haven't figured out what they are like yet," Alvin said very nonchalantly, the walls of the spiral stair broke, and I was stood in front of a cage with of a 20-foot python. Green scales smoothly moving in a circle that travelled upwards and, resting atop was a massive head with bright red eyes glaring down on me. Artificial sunlight I think we are underground shone in the cage and the remains of medium-sized animals littered its cage, my back pressed against a stone wall.

"Best not to linger here Charles" Alvin called out, " Sebastian is friendly but doesn't like to be stared at, I got him two weeks ago, I get these more dangerous animals to look after and figure out their abilities before they are released back into the wild ".

"You called that thing Sebastian?" I said I'm still shocked by that. "You figure out abilities?"

"of course, I did," Alvin said appalled I even asked, "he looks like a Sebastian" I turned around at the giant snake glaring at me, "Not all animals have abilities and not all humans have magic, it is some kind of, anyway I'm given these animals to figure out their abilities and if they are too dangerous to go into the wild or not, your dad here has to capture or take some more dangerous animals out there".

"HOLY HELL" Madison shouted "Look at the size of that thing. Mum pulled her and Lincoln to meet up with us.

"That's not a Sebastian! And why is he called that? Isn't that like, a normal name?" I said I figured that Dad has had to hunt animals down before, I've heard some stories before, but the normal names have confused me.

"Oh, I give all my animals normal names" he gave the last part air quotes, "makes them seem less dangerous and I think it's funny come I'll show you more".

We walked and followed Alvin down the basement of strange animals with strange names, Madison and I stayed close to the wall, Lincoln thought he was being tough until a crab the same size as him called "Russell" tried to grab him, now he is by the wall with us, it didn't seem to bother mum and dad as they fended off the animals with a flick of their hand and laughed at us. THEIR KIDS! For not wanting to go near the cages. We met Mathew the leopard with a temper and hotter breath it melted almost everything in there! Ben the albino gorilla with toxic poo once again melted nearly everything in its cage! And finally, Stuart the turtle, it didn't move I don't know why it's dangerous.

"Finally, here we are," Alvin said, stopping at a cage "Every mage I have asked to come to see this dog has got a negative reaction" I looked inside the cage, there was a large dog kennel in the middle, water bowl to the side of it. "For example, Nicholas if you would" Alvin called Dad over. And pointed to the front of the cage door. Dad walked over and stood there. Slowly a fluffy dog like a dark cloud made its way out of the wooden kennel. I bet hugging that dog must be like heaven, so fluffy! A low growl emitted from the cage slowly getting louder and meaner. The dog crept closer to the front of the cage and the fur dropped off it revealing red eyes fixed on Dad, ears pricked up. teeth showing fangs sharp enough to tear skin and its whole body now, bare! only leathery tan skin. What I'm looking at now is a hellhound.

Madison grabbed mine and Lincoln's arms and watched our father walk to us puffing his cheeks out.

"That was something," Dad said.

"Are you ready Charles?" Alvin asked. I looked at the dog walking back to its kennel. Fur growing back as it went, its earlier fur still on the floor. Madison pulled me back by the arm.

"I'll be fine," I said, "it's in a cage". I smiled and hoped that reassured her.

"Good man," Alvin said and pointed to the front of the cage where Dad stood before, I walked over and got a good smell of the cage, A mixture of metal and dog fur. I stood there and looked at the kennel and the dog came out again. A giant ball of dark fluff appeared, and pointy ears poked out of the fluff. It then made its way over to me, no growl. No fur dropping off too. I turned to look at Alvin, he had the biggest smile on his face. Suddenly this dog lay down next to the door of the cage, I could reach out and touch it, the temptation was there, I mean come on! It's so fluffy! I knelt to get a better look at it. I didn't move or speak, I was so happy at this moment in time, if what Alvin was talking about before was true this god likes me because of my dark magic. Mum knelt next to me.

"What do you want to name him?" she said softly.

I looked at Mum, "what?"

"Alvin said you can have the dog" I looked at Mum then at the dog and smiled widely.

"Why would he give him to me?"

"because" Alvin answered, standing behind Mum with Dad, Madison and Lincoln. "You might be the only person this weekend this dog will be loyal to, you can't have him now, I have spoken to your parents, and you will have to come back with your family a few times a week and we get... whatever you decide to call him, used to all of you".

"I'll think of a name next time," I said, truthfully, I couldn't think of a single name right now.

"that's perfectly fine" Alvin,

"We will come back next week," Dad said. We all left shortly after that, I clung to the wall to avoid the other animals and avoided eye contact with the giant snake Sebastian, and back into the shop, people were standing by the shop door waiting patiently.

Mum's phone went off, and she checked it quickly, "Alex texted she found our next stop and sent directions."

I looked around quickly, I could have sworn she was with us before, I wasn't the only one who thought that,

"I thought she was with us," Madison said.

"She left before he entered to find something for us". That was the last thing Alvin had said bye to everyone before seeing his new customers and we left the shop and went back into the nosey Winchester Road. Only a matter of minutes before I heard Dark Mage mutter again but this time, I was between Mum and Dad while Lincoln and Madison were walking in front talking about the giant snake. Mum followed the directions on her phone and came to a side street dark, and cramped, and a slight hint of wee lingered in the air.

"Where are we? Lincoln asked,

"Coney Road," Mum said, " and there she is" Mum pointed at Aunty Alex who was waving at us to come over, no one hesitated the thought of getting somewhere that didn't smell like we wee a win.

"In here," Alex said as we got close and saw a run-down shop, stripes of dirty paint falling off it, bars inside the shop windows obscuring views, Alex opened the doors into the shop. I was happy to be in from the bad toilet smell outside, but inside...

I stepped inside with Lincoln. Both of us looked a little confused as to why we were there, muddy floor, dirty walls, and dust so thick on the tables I couldn't tell what colour they were originally. Directly in front of the shop door was a counter, just the same as all the other tables in here covered with dust but this one had a till register on it.

"Hello there," said a firm voice. I looked around and saw a unnaturally tall man stepping through a door in the corner, he was bigger than Marvin! "Sorry about the mess it has been a long time since I have been here". Finally, getting a good look at the tall guy, he looked around Dad's ages a few wrinkles on his face but well travelled with a tan on his face and long arms, thin ashy grey hair, and thin lips to match his slim figure too. He had on blue jeans and a dark blue polo top.

"Not a problem," Dad said, he stepped forward and shook the tall guys hand, oh my god look at the size of his hands, one of them would cover half a football by themselves! "Thank you for coming back, how were your travels?"

"Very well thank you, I learnt a lot, I had to come back things have changed in the world," he said his voice firm but surprisingly smooth with each word, he then looked at me and smiled.

"This is for you, young man" he held his massive hand out the one that didn't envelope Dad's hand and he opened it up and there was an old-looking sword hilt, tree green at the boot and jet black at the top. "This was once the sword of a dark mage a long, long time ago I found it and restored it as best I could, it should fare you well for your school studies, please take it" I looked at Mum first and she nodded for me to do so. stepped forward, hovered my hand over his large hand and picked up the hilt, the big guy stepped back instantly, but nothing happened. I looked at Mum and then Dad with the look of What do I do?

"Charles," Lincoln said, "put some magic into it" Well don't I look silly, I tried to feel whatever dark magic felt like inside me and then pushed It through my arm into the sword, cold feeling drifted down my arm and suddenly jerked back as a black blade appeared out of the hilt.

"that's amazing" Madison leaned closer to the blade to get a better look, "it's got like black flames on" I leaned in closer to the blade, I didn't feel like pulling it upwards since Madison was still looking at it.

"It's an old blade," the tall guy said, "you'll need a new one at some point".

"This is incredible right now though!" I said honestly, I'm so happy, the thought of getting my old sword hadn't crossed my mind, everything has happened so quickly today I haven't had time to think.

"What happens when he needs a new one?" Mum asked. Lincoln had begun poking the blade now.

"I have some leads on where to get the materials to make new ones, while I was away, I learned to make these weapons, I'm going to transform this shop, and whenever young Charles needs anything, dark magic related come see me".

"I appreciate that," Dad said and shook his hand again.

"Yeah, thank you, mister....?

"Doulton, Axil Doulton, it's a pleasure to meet you".

I focused on taking all of the magic out of my hand and the blade retreated into the hilt. Then I reached my empty hand out to shake Axil's hand. He took and closed the giant hand over my baby hand. Axil got me a bag for my new sword hilt and promised next time we came he would have more dark magic stuff for me, he didn't charge me for the hilt and that the shop would be clean and look completely different.

We left and Aunty Alex explained that Axil was in her year in school and was obsessed with Dark magic and Dark mages not in an evil way but more with how they lived and why they were hunted down. He wasn't very popular because of that but he was good friends with Aunty Alex and my other aunty Molly who died during a battle in France before I was born.