Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(52)

“You know how unsteady it’s been for the last year, but before that, it wasn’t much better. The Magi lived in squalor, unable to feed themselves.”

I remembered back to when Leo had brought me out with him. He’d taken me to a house that was barely more than a few bits of wood thrown together. Its occupants weren’t allowed to use magic and so were forced to rely on handouts. I wondered if I could make a difference.

As if they had known what we were saying, a couple of older teens started shouting from the side of the bank.

“Oy Magi! Show us some magic.”

At first, I thought they were talking about Cynder, but as I watched, they pushed a small boy to the ground. He couldn’t have been more than ten or eleven and was dressed worse than Cynder and I were.

“I can’t!” the boy cried. “You took my wand. I can’t do magic without it.”

“Turn the boat,” I said quietly, but I didn’t need to. Cynder was already steering it in the direction of the boys.

We’d not quite reached the bank when there was a splash in the water right next to us. It was dark, but I clearly saw the blond hair of the child as he disappeared under the surface. Thinking, he’d swim right back up, we both waited a couple of seconds before we realized he wasn’t going to. Without thinking, I dived into the pitch black water. A thousand needles hit me as I plunged beneath the icy surface. Opening my eyes, I tried to see the boy, but it was no use. It was too dark to see anything, so I dived down deeper with my arms out in front of me trying to feel my way to finding the boy. The water next to me moved, shocking me. I’d not thought to ask if any creatures inhabited the murky canal. Someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me back up to the surface. As we broke through the glassy surface, I saw it was Cynder who had pulled me back up. In his other arm was the boy. He coughed up some of the black water as we helped him into the boat. Cynder helped me back in and then pulled the boat to the side with the rope, before pulling himself out onto the bank. I had nothing to give the shivering boy to warm him up, so I pulled him close to me and wrapped him up in my arms. I’d been wrong, he was younger than I’d originally thought, roughly six or seven and he looked malnourished.

I looked around me, desperate to find anything that could warm him up while Cynder tied the boat to the bank. The poor kid was shivering so violently, he couldn’t speak. My own teeth chattered in unison with his.

Spotting a police officer on duty, I called him over to us.

He came running over, but when he saw the pair of us, I saw his attitude change. His body stiffened.

“What’s the problem?”

“What’s the problem?” I replied. “Can’t you see what the problem is? This boy is freezing. I’m freezing, and the two boys who threw this young man into the canal have run away, taking his wand with them.”

The policeman looked down on us. “There’s nothing I can do to help you. I suggest you go home and get dry, that’s if you have a home to go to.”

“Look here, Mr.,” I said, letting go of the little boy and facing up to the policeman. “We need to go to the police station, and you need to write a statement. Those boys need to be caught and charged with attempted murder. While we are there, we all need a shower and a change of clothes. I’d also like a doctor brought in to give us all a checkup. Goodness only knows what germs are in that water. Then, I’d like you to provide a warm meal for this young man and find out where his parents live so that he can be reunited with them, do you understand?”

“Now, who do you think you are talking to?” barked the officer. “I’ll arrest you if you talk to me like that again.” He grabbed my arm and pulled out a set of handcuffs.

Cynder, having tied up the boat ran over to us. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” He pulled his wand out and suddenly I wasn’t cold or wet anymore. Looking down, my drab clothes had magically turned themselves back into the beautiful dress I’d been wearing earlier. The small boy’s eyes widened as he took in my magical change of appearance, but it was nothing compared to the shock in the police officer’s eyes as he finally realized who I was.

“Your Highness! I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize...”

“Can you take us to the station before you start apologizing for treating people like scum? It’s freezing out here.”

He nodded and beckoned us to follow him.

“Nicely done,” whispered Cynder as we followed the officer through the night.

The small station was only a few blocks away, so it didn’t take us long to get there. When the other officers saw me, they did everything I asked. Within an hour, we had all been offered a shower and a hot meal. The young lad had wolfed it down like there was no tomorrow. Cynder and I, already full, declined the meal although we both had a cup of coffee.

I was just about to sit down with a police officer to give my statement when I was asked to go into the back room. Following one of the female officers, I was surprised to see a familiar figure.

“Monty,” I said, slipping into the seat in front of him.

“Your Majesty. I was called here to take your statement. The officers thought having a senior officer might make you feel more comfortable.”

While Monty did little to make me feel comfortable, he was right that I wanted someone high up to deal with this.

“Thank you. A young boy was thrown into the canal just a couple of blocks from here—” I began