Eight

I suddenly realised that having thrown myself at Jamie when he opened his eyes, I may be hurting him. After all, he had only just been invaded by thirteen ghosts, it was a wonder he was even alive right now.

"How are you feeling? I...I thought we were going to lose you."

He grimaced as he gingerly sat up on the sofa. I was still crouched on the floor, not daring to take my eyes off him in case he fell unconscious again.

"I've felt better. But...I've also felt worse."

His voice broke slightly and he closed his eyes. I had seen him do this before, remember the haunting memories of those agonising years when he and his fellow Sapphires were tortured, some or even, most, to their death.

"Say no more, I have a spell that will get you feeling tip top in no time."

Until he spoke, I had forgotten that Wizard Popkins was in the room with us. I jumped up from the floor and practically flung myself at him. It was somewhat hard to get my arms around his neck being that he was so tall, but I squeezed him as tight as I could manage.

"Thank you for bringing him back Popkins, I don't know what I would have done without you."

I stood on tiptoe to give him a kiss on the cheek. Popkins flamed nearly as red as the rubies from the vampire generation. He awkwardly patted my back, then stepped away pretty quickly, clearly not used to affection.

"It was nothing. You came for my help, I obliged." He walked over to where Jamie was sitting groggily on the couch and held out a hand for him to shake. "Hello Jamie, I'm Wizard Popkins and I'm going to cast a little spell to make you feel better, OK?"

Jamie weakly shook his hand. He was still as pale as the whitest bed sheet.

"Honoured to meet you Sir. There are no ways to thank you for..."

"Oh hush. No thanks needed. Besides, if I hadn't saved you, Cassie would have no doubt found a way to make sure I was as dead as you anyway."

I pursed my lips trying to hold back my amusement. He wasn't far from the truth.

Popkins took out his wand and pointed it directly at Jamies head.

"Magic wand, Enchanted spell....This is Jamie, Make him well."

He swished the wand and what looked like a sprinkle of gold glitter flew out and covered Jamie, fading as quickly as it appeared.

The colour returned to Jamies cheeks and he stood up from the couch, as good as new. He rubbed his head and raised an eyebrow, staring at Popkins warily.

"That was it? That was the spell?"

I giggled, not sure which I found funnier. Jamies confusion or Popkins offended expression.

"Yes Jamie. That was the spell. As I told Cassie when I was trying to bring you back from the dead, you must never declare a false spell while holding your wand. What exactly is it that you all find so funny about the spells?"

I wanted him to know that we weren't laughing AT him, that we appreciated him.

"I'm sorry Popkins. We really didn't mean to offend, they just seem so simple, that's all. Back in Pearl Eds, we learnt that the old human world had a mythical form of witches and wizards, and the spells they used were full of complicated chants. Each generation just takes some getting used to."

Popkins was just about to continue the conversation when the front door opened with a loud bang and in sauntered Mel.

"You vampires have no care for things do you? You don't have to show off your strength by breaking my whole house apart you know. The front door has never done you any harm."

Mel rolled her eyes and flicked her hair back with ease. She somehow made looking bored as easy as breathing.

"Oh give it a rest Popkins." When she clocked Jamie standing up, alive and well, she gave him an easy nod of greeting, but I could tell by the glimmer in her light blue eyes that she was thrilled. "And look, you can do something other than annoy. I will admit that even I am impressed that you can bring a virtually dead person back to life."

The kind wizard shook his head and muttered something about going to make them all some food before he tried a silencing spell on Mel. It was difficult once again to hold back the laughter.

I stepped closer to Jamie, feeling my heart flutter as he grinned. He looked better than ever after the 'Well Spell'.

"While Popkins is busy, I need to talk to you about what happened in the Diamonds, after you were ghosted."

Mel sauntered over to the comfy looking brown armchair and landed with a thud. All three of us jumped as a loud bang sounded on the wall.

"That is a vintage armchair you just tried to break. Can you please watch where you are putting your bottom?"

Jamie and I laughed out loud at Popkins exasperated tone through the wall. Mel didn't look impressed.

"It's a chair Popkins. Where else am I supposed to put my 'bottom'?"

We heard him sigh and busy himself with sorting some dishes out. I pulled Jamie over to the sofa and made him sit. I sat right beside him so that our legs were touching.

"You haven't told Jamie what happened yet?"

I shook my head. I could hear the accusation in Mels tone.

"He's only been awake for a minute, just before you came in. The spell took longer than we first thought. Popkins was working on him for ages. He's my hero."

She snorted.

"Some hero if he couldn't do it on the first try."

I was about to protest on Popkins behalf, but he stormed in the living room before I could say anything and took Mels wrist, pulling her up from the chair. Even though she was easily stronger than him with her vampire blood, the surprise made her comply.

"You need to let these two talk, alone. I need some help in the kitchen. It will be a good chance to train you on how to be a polite human being."

Jamie and I laughed as Mel was dragged out, with Popkins shutting the door firmly behind them.

I could hear Jamies heart steadily beating and I wondered if the half sapphire from Maisie could be felt from him.

"There is really no easy way to say this, but...after....after you collapsed.... somebody came to help you."

He nodded, giving me a handsome little smirk.

"Yes, Popkins did. And what a character. He's brilliant!"

I smiled, nodding in agreement.

"Yes, he is. But he didn't help us until we made it here, to the Emeralds. Back in the Diamonds, someone else helped us. Maisie."

He frowned, his eyes narrowing as he thought about it.

"Maisie? The name doesn't ring any bells."

I felt that the best way to approach this would be to just say it. The words needed to come out. There was no point in skirting around it. I gently took his hand in mine and linked my fingers through his. He squeezed my hand in appreciation and I took a deep breath.

"Maisie is your sister, Jamie. You never knew about her."

He frowned once more and studied my face for a moment, before dropping his gaze to our entwined hands.

"My sister?"

I gave a slight nod.

"When I ran away from you and Mel back at Drews house, she helped me get to your blood cart. I didn't know who she was but it seemed like she had a talent for reading minds or something. Then, after you were ghosted, she flew down to help. She explained that years ago, she went into hiding and transformed herself. She didn't want you to know about her incase she was found and killed. She didn't want you to have to deal with the heartbreak. She's been masking herself as a Diamond for some time now, undetected. It seems she has special abilities. Mind reading, transforming.... she is awesome Jamie."

Silence descended for a few minutes as I let him take it all in. He startled me as he leapt up from the sofa, pulling me up with him, placing my hand over his heart.

"She's the reason my heart is beating isn't she?"

I nodded, feeling his heart race beneath my palm.

"Yes. Maisies Sapphire and Popkins spell. That's why you are here right now, standing in front of me."

"Maisie gave me her stone. That would be the only way to jump start my heart again after having thirteen ghosts walk through me. She gave up her Sapphire, didn't she?"

"Yes."

He sighed and stepped away from me, walking over to the window. His eyes teary as he stared out over the idilic green scenery.

"She wants us to go back and find her if we make it through all this. She wants to know you."

"No Cassie, she wants us to find her and bring her back to the Sapphires so she can be laid to rest. She wants to be with all of her fellow Sapphires in death. It's only right."

His voice broke slightly. I could see his hands clutching the windowsill, his knuckles turning white.

"No. She...she wants to know you. That's why she..."

"She will die without her stone. The Sapphire that is now keeping my heart beating was her lifeline. Without that, she's going to get weaker and weaker by the day. She will deteriorate as if she is being starved and dehydrated. It will be slow, but it will be sure."

I shook my head. That couldn't be true. I jumped as I felt a hand on my shoulder. Popkins loomed over me, a sad smile on his eccentric face.I hadn't heard him come back in.

"It's true Cassie. You Sapphires are special. There is a reason there are so few of you. Mel and Jamie are firstly helping you because it's the right thing to do and secondly because....if the Pearl Eds and Mels Dad don't get to you and kill you first, then you not having a Sapphire with you at all times will kill you anyway."

My eyes widened. I turned to Mel who had just shuffled in silently. She knew more about all this stuff than I did. It seemed she went searching for information back at Pearl Eds while I just sat back and listened to what I was taught. I was beginning to regret just accepting my fate.

"Is that true Mel? Will I die without a Sapphire?"

Mel nodded and put her arm around my shoulder.

"I'm afraid so. It seemed pointless to tell you when we are facing a certain death anyway. But yes, the longer we make it through, the more urgent it is to get you to The Sapphire Generation and get you your stone."

I swallowed and tried to steady my breathing. It seemed silly when we had a bunch of people after us who would not hesitate to kill us anyway, but somewhere deep down... I must have believed that we were always going to make it.

I squeezed Mel in a quick hug and walked over to Jamie who was still staring out of the window. He jumped slightly as I put my arm around his waist and pulled him to me.

"I'm so sorry about Maisie. Is there anything we can do for her?"

He shook his head, then turned to face me, so close that our bodies were touching. I could feel his breath on my cheek.

"No. Her hiding in any other worlds meant that she was already weak. Her stone would have been getting smaller day by day. But without that, she doesn't really have a chance. And Cassie, I would never willingly put you in danger. I knew that it was a risky move travelling through the other generations without your Sapphire, but I also knew that going straight to our world would lead to certain death because that's where the authorities would have went first. It's why I agreed with your idea to travel through the generations. I've been battling with knowing you need the stone and trying to keep you safe. I even thought of giving you my Sapphire but then we would both die because the stone is a part of you. It's like a missing piece. You can't be complete or live without it."

I placed my hand gently on his cheek, feeling his warm skin radiating through my body. His mesmerising eyes were searching mine. Even though he had just found out devastating news about his older sister, he was still concerned for me.

"Jamie... I... I mean this in the nicest way possible but... I'm not your problem. I am so glad that you, Mel and people like Maisie, Drew and now Popkins are helping me. I will never be able to repay you all. But it's not your fault if I die."

He shook his head and was about to protest.

My heart that should have stopped beating when I entered the Ruby Generation thudded as I leant forward, silencing Jamie with my lips. He gasped as he realised what was happening, then to my relief, wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to him, returning the kiss. His lips felt soft against mine and every nerve ending tingled in my body at his touch.

All of a sudden, a piercing alarm sounded in the room. The noise was so loud and drilling that I thought my eardrums might burst. I jumped away from Jamie and covered my ears with my hands, noticing that Jamie was doing the same thing. I looked over at Mel and Wizard Popkins, surprised to see that she was burying her head in his chest while he had his arms wrapped tightly around her. The ear shattering sound carried on for what felt like an eternity, before a huge white flash struck the room like a lightning strike but brighter. The plates of food Popkins had bought out earlier all fell to the ground and shattered.

I stayed with my hands covering my ears for at least five minutes even though the ringing had stopped. I was frightened the pain would never go away. After a while, Popkins motioned for Jamie and I to relax. He held on to Mel with one arm and got his wand out.

"Clever wand, I hold you dear, The noise we heard so loud, so near, please make the pain disappear."

He swished the wand and at once, my ears were back to normal. No excruciating pain or loud alarm, everything felt better.

"Thank you. What was that?"

Jamie asked the question that all three of us wanted to ask him. Mel had self consciously shuffled out of Popkins arms and moved to the other side of the room.

"That was the authorities way of letting you know they are coming for you. It didn't affect me since I'm not the one they are after. I just heard it at a normal volume. You two.. ." He pointed at me and Jamie. "...would have heard it at an unbelievably painful decimal, nearly unbearable. Sapphires have good hearing. But Rubys have supersonic hearing. So Mel has come off worse than anyone. Here, let me grab you some tissues."

I looked at Mel, noting that she had dark red blood pouring from her ears. I put my hand to my mouth in horror as Popkins gently wiped the blood away. He smiled at her kindly.

"There, that should do it. I believe that the little gift of excruciating pain was from your lovely father. I've actually seen him use it before on someone. It's a specialty of Matthew Perkins."

Even though he was Mels Dad, the name made me shiver.

I walked over to her and took her hand in mine. Jamie came to the other side of me automatically. We watched as Popkins closed his eyes and swished his wand to and fro while muttering under his breath. After a while, he opened his eyes and remembered that we were watching him.

"It seems that word has reached our Emerald mayor, Kitty, that you three are in our generation and that you are in danger. She has thrown the authorities at Pearl Eds and Matthew off the scent by using some tricky spells. It buys us some time. They are looking everywhere but this generation. They have people searching in the Rubies, the Diamonds and the Sapphires right now. The only place you are safe is here. It seems like Kitty has given you roughly a week of freedom as a gift. She would like you to visit with her at some point."

The room was silent as we took in what Popkins was saying. A week was a long time. Maybe, just maybe.. we could come up with something by then.

"So we either face my murderous father or hang out with you for the next week? I honestly need to think about it before I agree."

Popkins raised an unimpressed eyebrow while I jabbed Mel in the side. I loved her but she could be rude sometimes.

"You are welcome." He glared at her with his arms folded across his chest for some time, until it became clear that she wasn't going to apologise. "Anyway, there is loads to see in the Emerald land, how do you fancy being guests of honour at our Witches and Wizards school? You can learn a few spells and our way of life. After all, two of you are Sapphires. Naturally intelligent, respectful and quick to learn. And one of you is an insufferable know it all who should have no problem mouthing her way through school. But first, we should go and get you guys some new clothes."

Popkins breezed towards the door. I followed suit, trying my best not to laugh at his comments towards Mel. It didn't hurt for people to have a little taste of their own medicine sometimes, even if she was my friend.

"Wait." We turned around, realising that Jamie hadn't moved from his spot. He looked worried, his brow creased with concern. "Popkins....It's a generous offer and everything, but what about Cassie? We need to get her to the Sapphire world. I don't think we can stay here for a whole week, it's too risky."

Popkins put his hand to his chin in thought, then looked at me, somewhat regretfully.

"The honest truth is that if you go to the Sapphire world right now, you will be killed. And if you stay here for a week, the chances are you could grow weaker and die. What do you want to do Cassie, take the certainty of dying or take the maybe?"

I knew that Jamie was worried about me. In fact, so were Mel and Popkins judging by the way they were staring at me, but surely there was only one answer.

"If I go to the Sapphires right now, it's not just me who will lose their life. You keep wanting to keep me safe Jamie, but I want to protect you as well. And Mel. It works both ways. It's not fair that you are in danger because of me. So it's a no brainer. I haven't had my stone for a few days now and I'm fine so far. Plus, the 'maybe' indicates that there is a very real chance that I could survive this. And I'm betting on those odds."

I took Jamies hand with the knowledge that there was no other choice and followed Popkins out into the magical world of the Emerald Generation.