Old Magic(11)

‘A tincture of St John’s Wort. A very good antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and sedative,’ Jillian explains. At least she seems composed now, that frightening vision hopefully gone.

‘Can’t you use normal antiseptic?’ he asks sarcastically. ‘Nothing on a supermarket shelf would sting half as much.’

Jillian keeps working gently. Her fingers, I notice, are still trembling a bit. A hangover from the vision. ‘There now, not too deep.’ She pushes his skin together where the wound is deepest, and sticks three adhesive strips over the top. ‘At least I don’t think it needs stitches,’ she says soothingly, in complete control now. ‘Are you up-to-date with tetanus?’

He nods. ‘Oh yeah, I would be. I’m always …’ He glances up quickly, his cheeks filling with bright colour. ‘Never mind,’ he mumbles.

‘Good,’ Jillian replies absently as she finishes working a sterile bandage over the wounded area. ‘It should be fine, but do see a doctor if it becomes angry.’

‘Angry?’ Jarrod asks, bemused.

Jillian starts putting away the bandages and bits and pieces.

‘Hot, red or swollen,’ I explain, having seen Jillian’s handiwork hundreds of times. The neighbours know her skills with cuts and stuff. And since it’s a good twenty-minute drive to the local hospital, and sometimes takes days just to get an appointment at the only medical centre in Ashpeak, she often has neighbours dropping by for little incidents. Not just human incidents either. Jillian takes care of injured forest creatures too, nursing them back to health then setting them free again. It’s not unusual for someone to call in through the night with a possum or koala they’ve found injured by the road.

Apparently satisfied with my explanation, and content with the first-aid job on his arm, Jarrod’s curiosity overtakes his fears. He starts browsing at the various bits and pieces of oddities Jillian keeps in her shop, mostly for tourists – crystals, oils, charms, New Age books. Jillian pulls me aside. I give her a brief rundown on what happened in the lab this morning. She listens intently, sometimes nodding.

‘He appears so gentle, yet …’ Jillian whispers, her voice trailing off. ‘I sense more. His aura is really quite spectacular.’

‘He’s filled with power, Jillian. I saw it. I felt it.’

‘It’s strange that he’s so unaware of it, Kate. Those that are born with supernatural talents either realise it early, or never at all. And so it can thrive – as in your case – or lie dormant. Those unfortunate ones who remain oblivious usually do so their entire lives. I’ve seen it happen so many times. Years ago, Denise Hiller’s baby used to pick the phone up every time someone was dialling their number. It used to annoy Denise when people would complain her line was always busy. She scolded her daughter continuously until the child learned it was bad behaviour. Now the child is grown, and there’s no way she will ever harness that strength of power again. She can do little things with a remarkable sixth sense. But that’s all. We’ve been trying to regain more, but most of it is lost.’

‘Jarrod’s power is immense, yet he’s completely unaware of it.’

‘That’s strange, like something’s triggered it.’

I try to follow her line of thinking. ‘Do you think there’s a reason his power is emerging now?’

She shrugs. ‘I don’t know, Kate. Just guessing.’

I think about this for a minute, but something else is wrong too. ‘If Jarrod’s power is so strong that he can manipulate the weather, and he doesn’t learn how to control it, anything could happen. The science lab was nearly destroyed today. Sheer luck no one else was hurt.’

‘You need to hunt around in his past, see what turns up. Unleashed power can cause mass destruction, Kate. But go slow. He seems somewhat frail.’

She’s being subtle. He comes across as spineless.

We stop whispering as Jarrod comes back. He thanks Jillian and we go outside. But even the brilliance of the bright blue sky can’t stop Jillian’s warning ringing in my ears.





Jarrod



‘Not much point going back to school now.’

I look at her; she has to be kidding. We’re standing in the quiet cul-de-sac outside her grandmother’s whacky shop. I glance at my watch. 11:00 am. ‘That’s fine for you, but I don’t want to face a suspension on my first day.’

‘I want to show you something.’

‘Sorry, I don’t think so.’ I start down the road; and can’t seem to get away quick enough. Kate is definitely weird, her grandmother too. Now I know where she gets it from. Poor kid, she hasn’t got a chance. It’s in her genes. ‘Another time, maybe.’ Like never!