John Decarteret's Blog - Posts Tagged "magic"

Hello, again guys!

Another WIP I am not sure about here (I have been looking through all of my book starter ideas)
This one is a Harry Potter-ish sort of idea, without everyone being witches and wizards. Very different, but the idea of another world hidden within our own is what drove this idea home for me. Let me know what you think please people! And more writing is coming soon! (Today probably)
So, as always, forgive any mistakes.
This is "Jules And The Hidden World Of Magical Creatures" Enjoy!


Chapter One

“Alright! Up! Come on! Up!”

The sound of Mrs. Grand shouting from the corridor woke Jules with a start and was as tender to the ears as nails down a chalk board.
With a groan, she pulled her pillow over her head, knowing what came next.

Bang bang!
Mrs Grand rapped her walking stick against her bedroom door, and continued to shout.

“Up! Up! Come on!”

Jules sat up with another groan as the footsteps, and tapping of the walking stick against the floor moved off down the corridor to wake the other girls. Jules could still hear the shouts, and wished she had a better way to wake up on a morning. Like an alarm clock, the kind with two huge bells that clatter and make it jump until it falls over, she saw one on television, and the woman backhanded it of her bedside table in frustration when it would not stop ringing. Or maybe a rooster? A rooster sitting on the fence outside, waiting for the first sign of sunlight to cockadoodledoo.

they are surely better than Mrs Grand and her walking stick.

One day she would have an alarm clock she decided, roosters may need looking after, and you can turn an alarm clock off, she knew she could never turn Mrs Grand off, her voice had no off switch and a battery that never ran out.
She wiped crusted spittle from her cheek and stretched with a long yawn. Swinging her legs around, and placing her feet on the hard cold floor, she sucked in her breath, and whipped her feet back up, like she had stood on snow barefoot.
Slippers. One day I will have fluffy warm slippers, or a carpet where your feet sink down, just like the one Mrs Grand has in her bedroom. Jules and some of the other girls had to act as nurses for her a few months earlier when someone spilled water in the kitchen and she fell, breaking her arm. They had to bring her meals in bed, and generally be at her bedside constantly as she asked for a newspaper or a drink. Jules did not mind, she got to feel the soft carpet beneath her feet and watch the huge television.

“One day I will have them” she said aloud while opening her small draw and pulling out thin socks. She put them on and got dressed in her old second hand clothes, which was a gray jumper that was big on her, and black trousers that were short on the legs.

“Summer dress” she said adding clothes to her wish list, “red with flowers” She had an overwhelming certainty that she would have everything she desired one day, and she constantly made mental notes about all of the things she would have when she finally left the orphanage. Maybe she would even get a job at that lovely store in town that has beautiful dresses and shoes, that would be nice.
The shoes she had were the only thing she did not mind, they fit her and were comfortable. Slipping them on, she walked over to her window and got down on her knees. Listening for sounds coming her way, and hearing none, she pulled up a loose floor board where she hid the two most precious things she had. Smiling, she pulled out a card she was given for her eleventh birthday, it was the only one she had ever got. It simply said.

Happy Birthday, hope you enjoy it, H

It was left on her windowsill along with a gift, a telescope. She looked at the card everyday and looked from her window every night with her telescope. Jules suddenly heard the familiar steps and taps of Mrs Grand coming along the corridor, she panicked as she put the card back on top of her telescope in the floor, and slammed the plank of wood back in to place just before her door burst open.

“What are you up to?” the old lady asked spitefully with her broken and cracked voice, like she smoked a pack of cigarettes a day. Jules was now sitting on her chair next to the window, with her legs crossed, chin on hand and elbow on knee, looking defiant, and guilt free.

“Nothing” she answered passively with an innocent smile while drumming her fingers on her cheek.

“Get up out of that chair, and get in to that kitchen, the porridge will not cook itself, and brush your hair! You look like a witch” She said angrily while pointing the walking stick at her.

“Yes, Mrs Grand” Jules answered in her most polite voice as she fluttered her eyes and smiled, mocking the old lady and making her growl. The old woman continued moving along the corridor and shouting at some of the girls who had not yet left their rooms. Jules let out a breath of relief. She would be utterly devastated if she no longer had her telescope and card, they were the only things she loved, and they meant everything to her.

Who “H” was she had no clue, she only knew one person who’s name started with a H, Harriet, a nine year old girl who could never get her hands on shoe laces never mind a telescope, and even if she could, she would not give it away. Tomorrow she would be twelve. Maybe H will bring me another gift? Maybe it is a distant relative? She thought. Jules had no family that she knew of, being in an orphanage it did not seem likely that the gift was from a family member, if it was, then why leave her there. All of her thoughts had to be pushed to the back of her mind, the mysterious H entered her thoughts way too much, and dreaming about all of the things she wanted just made her feel sad, but also determined, and she had breakfast to cook.
Jules decided to keep her gift a secret from everyone, nobody could be trusted, Mrs Grand had a way of bribing the girls with boiled sweets to give her information on the girls doing things they should not be, or to be more accurate, doing things she did not allow.
Jules eventually left her room to go to the kitchen to cook breakfast for everyone, just like every other day, and life was hard. All of the girls worked, some did laundry and others cleaned, Jules cooked and cleaned the bathroom. After another long day had ended, she entered her room with a tired sigh, and plopped down face first on to her bed and lay there for several minutes before sitting up. Exhaustion was completely normal for her and the girls, but Jules always felt it more than everyone else because she stayed awake very late every night to gaze out of her window with her telescope. It was the highlight of her life, and fatigue was the small price she did not mind paying. Slipping in to her huge mans football jersey she used as a nightgown, she got in to her bed and gazed at her window, and told the sun to hurry up and go away so that the moon and stars could come out and keep her company. Eventually the sunlight faded, and the moonlight took its place. Jules waited for complete silence in the house, Mrs Grand liked to walk the halls and listen for anyone who was still awake, she would bang her walking stick against their door, and growl at them to be silent. The time ticked away slowly and Jules forced herself to remain in her bed, there was no way she would risk being caught with her telescope, and proved herself quite correct to be cautious, because she could hear somebody outside of her room, listening for a sound, and trying to catch her out. Mrs Grand was relentless in her pursuit of catching Jules doing something she should not be. Jules waited two whole hours after hearing her outside of the door, before sneaking out of bed and taking her telescope out of its hiding place. It was after midnight and it was technically her birthday now.

“Thank you” she whispered to the sky as she gazed out of the window with her birthday present from the year before, imagining the moon and stars were wishing her many happy returns.

“You be a lot welcome” a voice whispered to her in response.

Jules backed away from the window in fright, too scared to make a sound, not only because a voice spoke to her, but always because Mrs Grand would be in her room swiftly, she always had that terrifying thought rattling around in her mind at night. Spinning around, she scanned her room looking for the source of the whisper. Nothing.

“Who said that?” she asked in another whisper spinning back around and looking out of the window once more.

“My name are Hatfield” the voice said from behind her, it was a smooth and well spoken voice, like someone high born or from a rich English family. Jules hesitated before slowly looking over her shoulder to see what appeared to be a short bald old man with a top hat and pin striped gray suit sitting on her bed. He held a cane made of marble with a golden ball on top that shone in the moonlight that was coming through the open window. Jules was shocked and span around quickly as she saw him.

“What do you want?” she asked him in an unsure and shaky low voice.

“To tell happy birthday, and ask her if her is ready to be gone, from here place” Hatfield answered kindly.

“What? I do not understand what you are saying” she said with less fear, there was something about him that made her feel comfortable.

“Forgiveness, I be learning your speaking” Hatfield held up his hands in apology, and smiled shyly.

“Oh, you are learning my language, where are you from? Did you give me the telescope? Thank you” She walked towards the strange little man who nodded.
He was strangely dressed, and she looked at him more closely, he could not have been much more than four feet tall. He had what looked to be an old mans face at first glance, but at closer inspection he did not look old at all, his skin was a pale gray, and he had lines that could be easily mistaken for wrinkles, only these wrinkles were long, and not short like other wrinkles. His eyes were a perfect blue and his lips were a strange shade of green that strangely seemed to match his skin tone. A smell of lavender filled the room and Jules thought the smell was beautiful. Hatfield lifted his cane and pointed out of the window before saying.

“Up” and continuing to smile.

“Up? You mean space?” she said excitedly and trying to keep her voice down.

“No, no breath in space, world, up and out, far” He whispered and prolonged the word far, like it was an amazing mystery.

“Another planet? That is brilliant! What is it like?”

“Gone now, but not much seconds to be talking, I and she must be gone with fast” Hatfield gasped as he stood up and walked up to Jules, taking her hand, and moving towards the window.

“What? You mean leave? by going out of the window? Do not be crazy, I do not know you, and it is too high to climb down” Jules said pulling her hand away.

“Trust, or be staying with horrific madam” He said pointing at the bedroom door. Jules could here someone coming along the corridor, Mrs Grand had heard her, and was coming to her room.

“Lets get out of here” she answered quickly picking up her clothes and telescope that Hatfield placed inside his top hat making them disappear like a magician, before they took each others hand.

“Time to being magic, Jules” he said grandly as he took several steps back from the window, and ran hand in hand with her towards it.
They both jumped out and were gone as the bedroom door burst open. Mrs Grand looked around frantically and went to the window as fast as her walking stick could help her. Jules and Hatfield came out of nowhere and flew past her, scaring the life out of her and making her fall backwards with a yelp. They laughed gleefully before flying off in to the distance, leaving the orphanage behind.

Hey everyone, chapter 2 of Jules and the hidden world of magical creatures (WIP) just finished. As alwayd, forgive mistakes, unedited. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Jules clung to Hatfield as they flew through the night, over tree tops and in to the unknown. “Why am I not screaming in terror?” She said in her mind. It was silent, and the stars were shinning bright above them. Jules loved the night, the mystery of the universe now filled her mind, and she was finally living her dream, flying through space, well she knew it was not space, but she looked up at the black sky and imagined it was, “Of course I am not screaming, this is amazing” The trees below them swayed and shook in the wind, and the moon shone down on them, illuminating the view. She was free, and had never felt more alive.

“How are we flying Mr Hatfield?

“Mystic” he answered holding her hand and opening up his pinstriped jacket with his one free hand, and pulling out a small bag.

“Mystic?” Jules said confused as she looked at the small bag. “What is that?” Hatfield looked at her also confused before realizing his mistake.

“Ah! Magic! This is what I speak” he smiled and shook his head “This is magic, gifted me, from friend”

“Magic” Jules looked at the small bag that sat on the palm of his gray hand, and was in awe. “But what is it?”

“Difficulty telling her, magic are magic, from Humbert, friend” Hatfield tried his best to explain to her, and Jules had no idea what he was talking about or where they were going. But she was content, and was not scared as they flew through the night. Jules suddenly became aware of the chill as the wind picked up, and she shivered.

“Her Ice? No afraid, clothing soon, drink, feel hot” Hatfield said handing her a small glass bottle.

“Good, it is getting really cold” She drank the liquid that tasted like peppermint and was freezing, and strangely it made her feel warm and cosy, like sitting in front of a fire in winter with a mug of cocoa, not that she had ever done that, but she imagined it was a perfect description for warmth and contentment, most of her thoughts about things were speculation, she had no experience of them and her imagination was her only reference with such things.

“Her heat now?”

“Yes, I am warm now, thank you” Jules smiled “Clothing you said? From where Mr Hatfield?” she asked him feeling snug, although she was flying through the night in a football jersey with bare legs.

“Place we go, with friends” Hatfield smiled. They flew for a short time, over forests and fields, and a small lake, until they approached what appeared to be a distant mountain.

“Where are we? How is there a mountain?” Jules asked excitedly, and surprising herself, she should really be afraid in this situation, anyone else would be, right?

“We go far distance, friends being here, no scared, safety” Hatfield spoke in a calming tone, fearing Jules would be apprehensive. Jules nodded and smiled in reply, there was no fear, only questions.

“Who are you Mr Hatfield? Why did you get me out of the orphanage? I do not know you” Jules spoke quickly, the questions came out in a hurry and she still had more desperate to follow. None of it made any sense.

“Understanding your needing clarity, her knowing soon, we are being here, eyes” Hatfield spoke and pointed at his right eye before turning his finger towards the mountain wanting her to look. It looked like an island sitting on a huge body of water, it could have been a river or ocean, or even sea, but Jules did not really know the difference between them, it was simply a mountain sitting in water. They flew closer to it and Jules noticed what appeared to be a door, a huge door that reminded her of a castle you see in cartoons. It was made of dark wood, and had strips of metal running through it with a spiked fence above it.

“We are going in to the mountain? Why is the door so big Mr Hatfield?” Jules asked.

“Yes, we go, door so big for Humbert, he being extra tall” Hatfield said lifting his free hand above his head to explain his friends height.

They reached the door and touched down in front of it, it was even bigger than Jules had first thought. She imagined it was at least the size of a house as she looked up at it. Hatfield smiled at her before walking up to it with his blue marble cane. He twisted the golden ball from the end of it and touched it to the door. A bright white light came from beneath the ball spreading across the door looking like an eclipse. The door began to move up, not open up, like Jules had expected. The fence above it began to rattle and shake as the door bumped and nudged it on its way up. Jules bent down to look inside and let out a gasp as her mouth hung open and her eyes widened with a sense a magical awe at the view.

“Come Jules, warmth clothes and meeting friends” Hatfield said holding out his hand for her to take, and to follow him into wonder. Not answering, she took his hand with her eyes glassing over as if in a trance from the sight, and they walked through the now fully open arch way where the door instantly began to retreat down as they stepped inside. The entrance was lit with candles the size of lamp posts with flames flickering with the wind, and the walls were flat and smooth, not like a mountain should be, all rough and ragged, but perfect. The light coming from the candles gave everything a golden shine, they were in a high hall way made of marble, the same as the cane Hatfield carried, and there were little men in what looked to be a lounge in the short distance, they looked just like Hatfield, except for the suit and cane, and they wore plain white all in ones with white shoes to match. The dozen or so men were all sitting drinking tea. Laughter and conversations echoed towards them, and Jules noticed everyone was so small, and she wondered why, since everything was so big. The little men were talking extremely fast, and she could not work out what they were saying, if it was even her language, she doubted it was. Walking towards the lounge with Hatfield, and passing by enormous paintings of dragons and fairies that hung from the walls, one of the small men noticed them and stood with the biggest smile Jules had ever seen, it took up at least half of his face leaving little room for his small button nose and gray eyes.

“Hatfield! You are back! And have brought a dumdum with you, how rebellious of you!” he said in a similarly posh way to his friend, continuing to smile widely, flashing white teeth and winking at Hatfield with his hands in his white pockets, rocking back on his heels.

“Yes Ellis, this is Jules of five” Hatfield replied in a voice that was almost a challenge, before he winked back at him and lead Jules to one of the three sofas that sat in the middle of the room. It was a huge place for small people to live, and there was a fire place that made Jules gasp with excitement before she realized that the conversation Hatfield had with his friend was perfectly understandable.

“Mr Hatfield? How did you just speak normally? And 5 of what?” Jules asked before thinking her question may have been rude, but Hatfield smiled and nodded as he pointed for her to sit.

“Magic Jules, everything here is very different to what you know, I did not speak normally, Ellis and I spoke our own language, and the five bit is complicated, answers soon” Hatfield said with his still noble sounding voice “we can talk easily now, but first, clothing for you, as promised” He walked over to the burning fire place and stuck his arms inside.

“Mr Hatfield!” Jules shouted in fear and ran towards him to pull him out of the flames, but she was a second late, and he removed his arms from the fire with no burns or evidence of ever being exposed to heat.

“I am quite fine Jules, do not worry, it is not real fire” He smiled handing her a big box. She looked relieved and smiled as she opened up the box from the flames to find a red dress with flowers.

“How did you know?” she said taking it out of the box and placing up against her chest before performing a twirl with giddy laughter.

“I did not know anything, this fire place gives you things you need, it knows what you like, but I fear it needs upgrading, you can not wear that dress outside, it will be snowing soon, and you will need something warm, it should have known that, what kind of warm clothing do you like?” Hatfield ask her as she inspected the beautiful dress with pleasure.

“Warm clothes? I don not really know Mr Hatfield, I have never chosen clothes before, I just seen a dress like this in a shop window once, and thought it was the best thing in the world” Jules replied.

“Ah, I see, that is why it gave you the dress, it is the only item of clothing you have ever desired, well, never mind, I will get you something appropriate” Hatfield put his arms back into the flames and rummaged around, before pulling out another box, much larger than the other one, and placed it on the floor in front of her. Jules looked upset, and put the dress back in the box and handed it to Hatfield.

“Why are your eyes dripping?” Hatfield looked curiously at her “Does it mean you are sick?” He said suddenly looking concerned.

“What? No, I am sad, I am sorry Mr Hatfield, you must think me ungrateful, thank you for the clothes” she answered him opening up the new box to find a warm winter coat with fur around the neck and mittens attached to the sleeves. There was also a plain black jumper with a hood and black skinny trousers.

“Oh, human eyes leak water when they are sad? How strange. Why are you sad Jules? Are you afraid? This must all be very odd for you, in a mountain with strangers” He said more to himself then her, knowing the way he got Jules out of the orphanage and brought her there was not very good, and should have scared the girl silly.

“No, it is not that, I just really love the dress” she answered quickly, too quickly for her own liking, thinking she sounded truly ungrateful now.

“The dress is yours Jules, the fire gave it to you, I am not taking it from you, but I do suggest you wear the warm clothes outside, snow is coming, and you will need some boots” Hatfield looked at her confused again, not knowing why she would think he would take her dress away.

“Oh, Mr Hatfield, thank you!” she said with delight and hugged him, making him even more confused before she let him go looking embarrassed.

“Is holding a custom humans use to show gratitude?” he asked her, with his mind trying to work out how humans act.

“Yes, sort of, it is called a hug, people do it to say thank you, and they do it to make each other feel better” she answered him thinking hard about the question.

“So it is magic? Holding each other heals pain?”

“What? No, well yes, it is hard to explain, when people are upset you give them a hug, It makes them feel good, or it is supposed to, it shows them you care and are there for them, to support them and help them” Jules said suddenly realizing that it does sound extremely confusing, even to her.

“Humans are very different to other creatures” Hatfield said taking off his hat and scratching his completely bald head, before replacing it.

“So where are you from? You said another planet, how is that possible?” Jules said now curiously.

“Yes, we came a very far distance, we all did, many different creatures from very different worlds, a huge variety of beings” he answered.

“But why?”

“Because we are hiding, and we had to find the five, they are the only ones who can save us from him” Hatfield said in a quiet voice as he looked down.

“Hiding? From who? Who is the five?” she asked him.

“A bad and evil creature, he wants to destroy and enslave everything and everyone, he thinks he is special, kind of like a god, but he is not, and the five are the leaders of the five stars, the five stars are planets that are right next to each other, you can see them as close as you see your moon. The five are the only ones powerful enough to stop him, but they vanished a very long time ago, and they are here, I am certain”

“They are powerful?”

“Yes, the are the magic givers, they created it, long long ago, my people think the five are just a legend, a story, mythology without substance, but I believe they still exist, or at least their ancestors” Hatfield smiled.

“You called me Jules of five, to your friend, you do not think I am one of them, do you?” Jules said scared. She did not want to break his hopes and dreams by telling him she was just an orphan, with nothing to offer him in terms of help, and certainly not magic that can fight off an evil creature.

“You are one of them, you do not know it yet, but you will soon enough” he winked at her and smiled kindly “Anyway, forget that for now, it is late in the night, you must be tired, I will show you to your room” Standing up and carrying the two boxes, he lead her through a door that was the same height as the entrance door, and that brought them to a corridor. It had lots more huge doors that lead to bedrooms, and more lamp post sized candles. Hatfield showed her to the closest room, where he left her to get some sleep.