Nine

The Emerald Generation of Witches and Wizards was by far my favourite world out of the three I had visited. Everyone was friendly. The scenery was breathtaking. The food was delicious. And best of all, Wizard Popkins lived here. It wasn't just the fact that he had saved Jamie or that he was able to put Mel in her place when she got mouthy, it was something else. He was unique. He was like the long lost family all of us at Pearl Eds yearned to find. He was striking and eccentric. I already knew that I would want him in my life forever. Which shouldn't be too difficult considering Jamie and Mel were worried I could drop dead at any moment without my Sapphire. I kept telling them over and over again that I was fine, but to no avail.

I really did feel OK though. There were no signs that I was getting weaker. In fact, surrounding myself with good friends and fantastic food in an enchanting and mesmerising land made me feel better than I had ever felt before. I was only just beginning to live and it felt wonderful.

The school was absolutely beautiful. Students of all ages crowded the picturesque grounds. The building consisted of about ten huge castles joined together. Towers and looming draw bridges dominated the view. It was hard to know where to look.

"By the way, I don't know if I mentioned it before...but my full title is actually Professor Wizard Popkins. If we make our way to tower eight, I can grab you some spare wands and teach you some things. Follow me everyone!"

"He's a Professor? Seriously? Huh. They clearly let anyone teach in this generation."

"Mel, are you ever nice? To anyone?"

I bit back my laughter at Jamies words. I was relieved someone else told her off other than me. I also knew that Popkins had heard yet another insult, but he let it slide as we pushed forward to tower eight.

All around us were people practicing spells. Everyone looked happy and enthusiastic. It really was a content world to be in. When our teachers taught us about the three generations at Pearl Eds, they never quite let on just how brilliant this world could be. I was definitely beginning to think it was on purpose.

Eventually, we made it to tower eight. Wizard Popkins took his wand out.

"Lovely wand, don't make us wait...take us to the top of tower eight."

I didn't know whether to laugh at the ridiculous spell or gasp as a round platform came swooping under our feet, nearly knocking us over.

I fell into Jamie who caught me with his strong arms and gave me a dazzling grin. Popkins had stopped Mel from falling and still had his hand awkwardly on her shoulder while she looked disgusted by it.

"Huddle in and stand still. We don't want to fall off the platform as it goes up."

We followed Popkins instructions and gathered in a circle, not daring to move a muscle. It was a pleasant feeling to be slowly lifted through the tower. When we reached the top, Popkins held his wand out again.

"We are here to learn, we are here for fun, now make us a classroom for everyone."

Mel raised an eyebrow as she stared dubiously at Popkins.

"Was that it? Was that really the...."

She jumped as he held a hand out to silence her.

"Don't even say it. Yes it was the spell. Spells are weird, OK? I didn't make them up. Now get into class before I give you detention."

I hadn't noticed that while they were bickering, a huge classroom had appeared in front of us. It was so much nicer than any classrooms we had at Pearl Eds. The tables and chairs were all a sparkling emerald green and the walls were decorated with famous spell chants. When I looked up, instead of seeing a boring, white ceiling, I saw a tranquil blue sky with tiny birds fluttering gently this way and that.

"This is my classroom. Each professor's classroom is different and tailored to them. I like to keep mine simple." Popkins walked over to a chest of drawers and pulled out three wands, chucking them to us. Each wand was identical, just like the one from the Emerald Generation banner at graduation. "On the walls, you will find different spells. You can have free reign and practice anything you want. All the spells in here are designed for complete beginners and minimum chaos, so you can't cause too much trouble. To activate a spell, you have to say the chant out loud with a swish or two of the wand. Go ahead and practice, I've got some marking to do. I teach seven classes of fifty-five different pupils each day and some of them are coming up for exams. Cassie and Jamie, I'll be here if you need anything. Mel, your know it all personality means you will be just fine so please don't bother me." She rolled her eyes so hard at this I thought they were going to fall out of her head. "Have fun guys."

Popkins sat down at a desk and magiced out a huge pile of papers. I wondered around the room, trying to find a spell I wanted to do. I noticed that Jamie was pacing, he seemed to be searching for something in particular. I quickly cast a spell that produced a delicious smelling and brightly wrapped chocolate bar. I walked over to Jamie and nudged him, handing him the treat. His golden eyes lit up as he beamed at me.

"Thank you. What ridiculous thing did you have to say to get this?"

I giggled and swished my wand.

"Oh dearest wand, please be a star... and gift me with a chocolate bar."

He chuckled at both the corny spell and the fact that another chocolate bar appeared , this time with a different wrapping. I watched as he neatly pulled the paper off and broke the first chocolate bar in half, offering it to me. I accepted, eating the chocolate as I scrolled the wall for more spells.

"So ...what are you looking for?"

His eyes were now darting frantically from spell to spell, clearly searching for something. His mouth pulled up into a half smile as he glanced at me nervously before looking back at the wall.

"I just...well... If you must know, I was wondering if there happened to be a spell where we could get our first kiss back. A kiss so magic that it takes your breath away. A kiss that isn't interrupted by the authorities sending out reminders that our days are numbered." He took the second chocolate bar from my hand and put it on the desk behind us, then linked his fingers with mine, smiling shyly. "I want a spell where all of the bad stuff disappears and we can just have our moments. Our own romantic movie. A life of romance in the Sapphire Generation without being hunted down and killed."

Despite how serious he was being, I couldn't help but laugh.

"I don't think there's a spell for that. And besides, we are living our own kind of romantic movie. It couldn't get much better than an absolute dreamy guy walking into my life and helping me go on a quest to find out where I belong. I'm living the dream with you Jamie. Minus the being hunted down part."

My heart fluttered at the smile he gave me. I took his wand and placed it on the desk next to the chocolate bar, chucking my wand down with them. I wanted to touch him. I had to touch him. I knew without a doubt that he had come into my life for a reason, and even if our time together was destined to be short, I knew it could be happy as well. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him close to me. When my lips touched his, everything felt right. It was a bolt of electricity and a peaceful sense of home all at the same time. My body tingled as he envoloped his arms around my waist, one hand snaking up to carress my back. I parted my lips as I felt his tongue gently probing, fireworks going off all over my body. In that moment, we were connected with an electrical current between us so strong that it momentarily scared me. I eagerly kissed him back, I didn't want to be scared anymore. I felt slightly bereft as he pulled away and scattered light kisses that made me shiver up my jawline to my ear.

"I forgot we had company." His whisper broke me out of the wonder of the moment. I suddenly realized that Mel was staring at us, looking disgusted. Jamie reluctantly pulled away from me but took my hand, linking his fingers through mine. "I'm surprised Mel hasn't made a catty remark."

"I just performed a temporary silencing spell on her while you two love birds had your moment. It will wear off in a few minutes. You can thank me later."

Popkins looked rather pleased with himself as he carried on marking papers. Mel made a rude gesture behind his back, but knowing Popkins, he was no doubt aware of it.

The afternoon passed by as we carried on with the spells. It was so far, the best day of my life. Spending it with the people who were dearest to me made me forget all of my troubles. In fact, the days started ticking off one by one and I wasn't a bit worried about any impending doom because I was living for each moment. Popkins let us stay at his, which was a dream come true for me because I adored his cottage. We ate all our meals together, the normality of Popkins and Mel bickering was reassuring. We went to tower eight every single day and started learning advanced spells. My favourite spell was being able to magic up a pet. You could have anything you wanted, spend a few gleeful hours with it before sending it off in the Emerald world, knowing it would be looked after by all the witches and wizards, living a life of contentment forever more. Jamie was quiet. I still saw the times he would shut his eyes and shudder at a bad memory from the years of torture or stare out of the window for ages, no doubt thinking about Maisie, but they were subjects that he wouldn't talk to me about.

On day seven, I remembered that the first time we met Popkins, he seemed sad when I mentioned that Maisie had sent us. Jamie had popped out with Mel to fetch some food to bring back, so I seized my opportunity and asked him why. The answer was heartbreaking yet uplifting all at the time. It turned out that Popkins had been a secret traveller to the Sapphire Generation when he heard that the people there were being tortured. He had asked the Mayor of the Emeralds, Kitty Harris, if he could go and help them because he had figured out an advanced spell on how to enter the other gens. She granted him permission after feeling forever guilty about having to give up the transportation spell to Matthew and Shane, and he single handedly saved eighty-four Sapphires who were now masquerading as Emeralds. The authorities didn't know about them, but they were thriving because they had their stones. Popkins had cast every spell in the universe to help hide the fact that the Emerald Generation were harbouring Sapphires and with Kittys help, they had succeeded. But the day he came across Maisie, who had suffered nearly a decade of torture, the spell to get her back to the Emeralds had failed. He didn't know what went wrong, or why it didn't work on her, but he always felt responsible that she was living an unhappy and lonely life as a diamond after so many years of pain. She was the one he couldn't save or make happy and for that, he would always feel empty. By the time Jamie and Mel got back with the food, Popkins and I were both crying. We had to pretend that we were casting spells on who could make the other cry first, but I don't think they bought it.

A week had passed and there was no sign of anyone coming for us. Popkins was able to cast spells and keep an eye out, but the authorities and Matthew Perkins were busy with their own business. On day fifteen of being in the emerald generation, I asked Popkins if he thought it might be a possibility that they had given up and might let us live our life in peace. He shrugged sadly and shook his head, not able to meet me in the eye.

We made friends in this world and had become nearly as good at some spells as the Emerald residents. I didn't know if it was my imagination, but the more days that ticked by, the more distant Jamie became. I desperately wanted to ask him about it, but something didn't seem right and I didn't know how to approach it.

By day eighteen, Popkins decided that the three of us had learned all the spells to his satisfaction and that we deserved a graduation celebration. It was held in tower eight in Popkins classroom. The green desks and chairs were nowhere to be seen. The room had been transformed into a disco hall. It was filled with all the friends we had made over the past couple of weeks and a wonderful banquet with every food imaginable. There was even a special table for Mel's blood cocktails supplied by Jamie's blood cart. Popkins had made the three of us emerald green graduation caps. Mine and Jamie's caps had a classy Sapphie stone on the front, and Mel's a glittering red Ruby. As the night wore on, people started to disperse from the celebration until eventually, it was just the four of us left.

"Well you three, you graduated. You've made me very proud. Even Mel."

She rolled her eyes and I giggled, trying to catch Jamies eye. He avoided me. He hadn't been himself tonight and I didn't know what to do about it. Apart from the odd peck on the cheek, we hadn't kissed since the first time we were in this classroom. When I pushed him on it, he insisted it was because we were always with Popkins and Mel, which was true enough. I didn't ask him anymore. In truth, it felt like he was drifting away. Like he regretted ever helping me to begin with. And I knew it would break my heart if I heard him say it out loud.

"Thanks for throwing this party Popkins. I can't believe we are still all together in the Emerald Generation on day eighteen. It's unbelievable. And I can't believe we finally get to meet Kitty tomorrow. I'm so excited to meet the woman who has been so kind in letting us be guests in her world."

Popkins handed us all a glass of fizzy stuff, what, I wasn't quite sure. He grinned and raised his glass high.

"Cheers to day eighteen. And to being friends."

We clinked our glasses together in a toast. Before we could take a sip, a huge flash of blinding white light lit up the room, then everything went dark. I screamed as hands gripped tight on my arms, restraining me. When the light returned to normal in the room, I could see that Jamie and Mel had been caught too. As well as the three that had us, there were two people from Pearl Eds authorities, in the standard cream clothes, smirking at our cries of horror in the middle of the room.

"We thought it might be fun to drop in on your celebration. And we were right. The looks on your faces!"

It was the woman that spoke. She was smaller than me in height, probably only about five foot. She had bobbed auburn hair and square spectacles framing dark eyes they were nearly black, she looked to be full of evil. Her companion was a tall, skinny man with a shaved head. He had a scar running down his right cheek. They both terrified me in equal measure.

"But...but h-how are you here? I... I would have seen you coming. I have been watching your movements."

Popkins stood in the corner of the room. He was distraught. I was relieved to see nobody had him, this wasn't his battle.

"You thought you could out smart the authorities. It was never going to work. We have ways. Anyway, nevermind all this chit chat, it's time to go."

The man had a voice as sinister as his looks.

"Wait... it's me you want. I'm willing to go without a fight. This is all my fault, you can't punish my friends for any of this. Please, just let them go and take me."

"Cassie, no. I won't let you go alone."

Despite the horrifying circumstances I found myself in, I still had time to frown at Jamie's words. He had been so distant the last few weeks, I really didn't want him to get passionate over this. He had to save himself. This wasn't his fault.

"You've battled for years just to be alive Jamie. This isn't your fault."

Despite my bravery, I was terrified. I was still trying to wriggle free from the strong arms that had a grip of me. Hands were digging in to the bare skin on my arms, sending pain through my body.

"How touching. How noble. But I don't want to hear anymore. All three of you are coming. Mel has a visit with her Dad which will naturally end in her death and Jamie has a couple more years of torture before we kill him. So all three of you are coming. End of discussion."

In my head, I couldn't imagine a day coming where Mel's own Father would kill her. People kept saying it, but I didn't believe it would happen. But the panic I felt at the thought of Jamie having to suffer again was unbearable. I saw him flinch as he heard the word torture. I knew I needed to save him.

"No. No...you can't take him. You can't take Jamie. He's been through enough. Let him go."

I had to believe that the moment Matthew Perkins saw his daughter, Mel would be safe. I had to fight for Jamie.

Popkins walked into the center of the room. I saw his eyes flash. If I knew him as well as I thought I knew him, it seemed like he had an idea. Maybe he could talk some sense into them or he knew a spell that would get us out of this mess.

"Take me. Let these three go, and take me instead."

I gasped. Jamie looked bewildered. Mel seemed angry.

"Popkins, no."

My voice was firm, this was not his mess.

The auburn haired woman laughed manically.

"You? What on earth would we want with you? We don't have time for this."

"If you let those three go right now, I will come with you. You will be capturing the man who can out run you every time. You will be taking the only wizard in the generation who figured out how to get past your life sentence. All Emeralds die between seventy and ninety right? Not me. I've cast an immortality spell so I will forever remain twenty three. A spell you authorities didn't even know existed."

The man and woman looked at each other, shocked. Popkins had shocked them.

"Well then, with that information now known, we will send someone for you after we get these three back. You will be dealt with at a later date for breaking the rules."

"If you take me now, you will be taking the man who you have been searching for for years. I'm the one you have been looking for. The one who single handedly saved all those Sapphires you tried to kill. That was me. The one who is responsible for enabling Rubies to escape their generation and live in the Emeralds or Diamonds. Or helping Emeralds become a Diamond or Ruby. And helping Diamonds become a Ruby or Emerald. You get the point. I'm the guy who has taken your stupid rules and broken them time and time again. You couldn't figure it out. You've known it was happening but you didn't know how. I'm your most wanted. You know that if you take these and not me, I will disappear. I will evade you at every turn. You will never catch me. I travel to each generation with ease. I can run forever."

Everyone in the room was stunned into silence. I knew about how he had helped the Sapphires, but everything else came as a surprise. It seemed like Popkins had a bigger heart than anyone could have guessed.

"You? You're our most wanted?"

Despite the seriousness of the conversation, Popkins chuckled.

"Well of course. You obviously aren't the brightest if you can't put two and two together. Why do you think I've been harbouring three fugitives the last few weeks? I have form for it. I'm changing the rules and generations you made bit by bit and you can't catch me. You will never stop me. Unless..." He paused and gave the three of us a small smile. "Unless you let them go. They are good people and they don't deserve to die. But I'm a criminal. I think it's the better option, don't you?"

"No. You aren't taking our place. Are you out of your mind?"

"Cassie's right Popkins. You can't give yourself up. You've helped so many people. You are not a criminal. "

The hands that were holding us back suddenly disappeared. Before I knew what was happening, the three authorities that had just been with us gathered around Popkins.

Mel, who had been staring in horror the whole time, ran forward, grabbing at one of them to get them away from Popkins. Jamie and I followed suit, making a beeline for the others. It was no use. I cried out as I got flung backwards with force, landing on the floor in a heap. A tear fell down as I watched the authorities each grab one of Popkins arms, the other stood in front of him, pointing a large, sharp knife at his stomach, the metal glinting in the light.

"Don't hurt him. Please don't hurt him."

I tried to crawl forward, I wanted to reach him, but something was keeping me held back.

"It's OK Cassie. My time has come. I had to make it easy for them sooner or later. You are wonderful. You are brave and strong. Go live your life in the sapphire world peacefully with Jamie. He's a good lad." He paused to give Jamie a nod, who nodded back, sadness etched all over his face. "Mel, it's been a pleasure. Well...no. You've been a pain in my bottom but...well, you know." Mel let out a gutteral sob. "Goodbye my friends. Live well."

A flash of light hit the room again, so intense I could barely open my eyes. When my vision returned to normal, I could see that the room was empty apart from Jamie, Mel and I.

Popkins was gone.