If you haven't read the seventh Charlie Bone book (Charlie bone and the Shadow know as Shadow of Badlock in England) you do not want to read this fanfic until you have. Trust me it contains SPOILERS. Note I DON'T own the contents of the children of the red king series. I'm going to use a scene from the actual book and change it dramatically. I'll be adding on as well. Here I go.

They got into the boat and Uncle Paton began to row away from the island. They hadn't gone far when a huge wave slapped into the side of the boat, tipping it dangerously. The sun had disappeared and the sky was filled with dark, angry clouds. There was a sudden crack of thunder, followed by a torrent of rain.

"Dagbert didn't follow us did he?" Charlie looked at the heaving waves.

"Could be the other one, his father," said Paton. "Mrs. Tilpin and the shadow have been gathering their forces, no doubt."

And they'll be mad about what I've done, thought Charlie.

The waves rose higher; great walls of water lifted the flimsy boat and tossed it down as though it were a toy.

"I should have thought of life jackets," shouted Uncle Paton through the roar of the water.

The next wave sent the boat rolling onto its side. Charlie lost his grip and felt himself sliding into the sea. He's not going to let me get away with it, he thought as the waves closed over his head. But at least I got one thing right.

"Charlie! Charlie, hang on!"

As he came up for air, Uncle Paton grabbed his wrist. "Come on, come on, Charlie. Don't let go," he shouted. "We'll get there, don't give up."

Charlie felt his uncle's hands pulling the back of his jacket, but the waves kept washing over his head, and he knew they wanted to drown him.

Then to both Charlie's and Paton's absolute horror the current dragged Charlie out of the arms of his jacket and into the water. Paton threw Charlie's jacket away knowing it wouldn't matter if he kept it or not. He dove his hands into the water with a wave crashing into his back. Paton's hands came back up empty. In desperation Paton leaned over the edge searching frantically with his entire arms in the water. Paton searched for an unusual color in the water but he couldn't find one.

While Paton was searching he failed to notice a twenty foot tall wave rushing towards his back. The wave hit him hard sending him into the water and breaking the boat into three pieces.

Paton rose back up to the surface and the waves around him ceased. Paton turned to the cliff and noticed a thin path had been made for him to land. Paton brought his eyes to the top of the cliff where a knight in shining armor with red feathers on his helmet was standing. Paton smiled and swam towards land in hope that the red knight had given a similar path to Charlie.

When Paton reached shore he turned back to the raging sea. Paton stood on the beach trying to find any sign of Charlie but he couldn't find a single trace. Not a washed up shoe or a blur of color. Paton wasn't disheartened easily. He sat on the beach and waited for something anything that would prove that Charlie was alive.

Half an hour had passed and Paton felt his heart become a little heavier. He turned to see where the red knight was but his rescuer had disappeared. Paton could only hope that that meant Charlie was safe. Paton returned his eyes to the sea which had calmed back to its usual self.

Paton sat on the seaside with the tide beating against his legs until it was almost time for Tancred's return party but Charlie didn't show. If I hadn't grabbed just his jacket he'd be here. Paton glanced at his hands in regret. Now Paton it's no good to blame yourself. There's no proof that he's dead….yet. It'll do no good to him or me just sitting here I need to get the police involved in this. They'll have a better chance of finding him than me. Paton scolded himself rising from his sitting position.

Paton turned to the cliff then whipped back and raced into the water with his long legs sending water everywhere. He ran towards a dark blur in the water about four feet out. "Charlie!" Paton grabbed hold of the blur and raised it out of the water. Paton felt tears well up in his eyes as he let water drip from Charlie's cast away jacket. Paton threw it on the shore in anger.

Paton came out of the water and reached in his pocket for his cell phone and his hand came back up empty. Paton checked all of his pockets and there was nothing. Not his cell phone, not even pocket change to use a public phone. Paton gave a grunt of frustration and strode swiftly to his car. Luckily his keys had been saved from the water's sucking, devouring mouth.

Paton swiftly entered the car and headed to the diner he had gone to previously with Charlie and Billy ignoring the fact that his clothes were still soaking wet. They allowed him to call the police when he told them the story. The police would be there as soon as they could but Paton had a feeling that to retrieve Charlie he would need all of the endowed children's help.

When Paton arrived at the thunder house he felt depression rise in his chest. Paton had no idea how he was going to the kids about this tragic event.

Julia Ingledew saw Paton coming and seeing the depressing look on his face she rushed forward throwing her arms around him in a hug. "Paton, what's wrong?" Paton shook his head as Charlie's friends (including Fidelio and Ben) rushed up to him.

Paton didn't answer with tears filling his eyes. "Where's Charlie?" asked Lysander as everyone tried to see if Charlie was behind Paton. Paton just shook his head and all of the children's faces fell.

"Paton what happened? Where's Charlie and why are you all wet?" Miss Ingledew asked with a hint of hysteria in her voice.

Paton a lump stick in his throat and his voice wouldn't work. His mouth opened and closed several times but Paton couldn't form the words. He had barely been able to tell the police what had happened and all he had told them that there was a boy was lost at sea. He gave them the area and Charlie's name of course but nothing else. All Paton could do was shake his head with a tear sliding down his cheek. He had grown extremely fond of Charlie and now when Charlie had finally got his father back he had gotten the poor boy lost at sea.

All of the children's faces fell when they saw Mr. Yewbeam shake his head. They understood what it meant. Why else wouldn't Charlie be at his side to welcome Tancred back? Why else would he be wet? And why would the courageous Paton Yewbeam be crying if Charlie wasn't… wasn't—? They couldn't bring themselves to think it let alone say it.

They all turned away. We came to celebrate the return of a friend only to have another taken away. They all thought with their heads down.

Mr. Torsson came forward and announced that the food was ready. "This isn't a time to celebrate anymore dad. Charlie's missing." Tancred mumbled sadly.

"Mr. Yewbeam may I have a quick word with you?" Mr. Torsson boomed. Paton strode swiftly with Mr. Torsson into the house. "Is that boy with or against the tide?" He whispered.

"What? You mean the actual tide?"

"Yes. If it's in his favor he will surely make it especially if you had a boat with you."

"The boat broke." Paton solemnly said.

"Even so it floats as long as he has that boat near him it won't take as much energy out of him. I'll ride a storm over there to get him." Mr. Torsson said confidently.

"No! We don't want to bring our enemies' attention to the ocean. That might make things worse for Charlie if he's alright." Paton objected.

"So we do nothing?" Mr. Torsson asked amazed.

"For now that is all that we can and should do. Charlie's strong. He has a high chance of surviving as long as we don't interfere and make the Bloors interested in the sea. It's better to leave things like this for now. We'll think of something though I don't know what I'll tell that boy's parents." Even in sadness Paton remained the voice of reason.

***

Charlie was in the middle of the ocean with exhaustion burning into his legs. He had been swimming for the past half hour now he was treading water. The current had pulled him underwater for at least a minute and when Charlie had resurfaced he found that he was a little more than halfway to the Castle of Mirrors. Charlie had swum as far as he could towards the cliff with determination in his heart to rescue Billy and see his parents again.

Charlie saw was almost ready to swim for another round when he saw something like a fin and it was coming closer. Charlie felt his heartbeat increase. "Uncle Paton!" He shouted. "Where are you?" Charlie had lost sight of him the instant he had resurfaced. The fin was getting closer. A shark's going to eat me and then it'll be no more Charlie, just some blood and a couple of bones. He thought rapidly debating whether or not he should change course. Sure he'd get away from the shark but he might lose sight of the cliff and go the wrong way.

Charlie remained still hoping that the shark would pass but when the fin bumped into him it rose higher revealing a piece of the broken boat. Charlie gave a sigh of relief and grabbed the wood making it easier for him to float.

After hours of constant kicking Charlie finally reached the shore just after sunset. He lay on the cool sand and fell asleep.

***

At Bloor's Academy a secret meeting was being held. Grizelda Bone had just heard the news. Actually she had spied on Paton and overheard his confession to the family cook. She had requested the meeting. All her sisters were present along with all of the Bloors (excluding Bartholomew). Even all of the evil endowed children had been summoned never mind the fact that it was the middle of the night. They all sat around a table in a room that didn't have any windows.

"Okay what is this all about?" Dagbert yawned. He was never up this late but since Manfred asked him to come he had had no choice. The rest of the kids were in the same exhausted state. Joshua had his head down on the table with his eyes half open. The twins were fighting to keep their eyes open. Dorcas had her head propped up against her arm. Eric was the only child that had been allowed to stay home asleep.

"Since your attention span is low I'll get to the point." Grizelda announced. "Paton returned safely home but his companion didn't." Grizelda had told everyone earlier about Charlie taking Otus back to Amoret. Everyone's eyes widened and the ones who were in danger of falling asleep found themselves wide awake.

"Charlie's lost at sea?!" Ezekiel screeched with anger etched on his skull-like face. "Are you sure he's dead woman? Be sure!" He demanded.

"All that anyone knows is that Charlie was separated from Paton at sea and he hasn't been found yet. Paton sent the coast guard after him. They haven't found anything but they'll look again tomorrow." Grizelda explained.

"There's a chance that the boy's alive but this presents another problem." Dr. Bloor stated. "If Lyell hears about this he and his wife will be sure to return home as soon as possible."

"If there's one thing we know is that when Paton feels guilty he takes a long time to tell others. We can work on that increase his guilt long enough for Charlie to have a chance to return, though he doesn't deserve it." Lucretia growled.

"Make sure you do." Dr. Bloor and Ezekiel said in unison.

"Dagbert contact your father and make sure he holds off the death of Lyell and Amy Bone for two weeks." Manfred ordered.

"Yes, sir." He replied.

"Good that'll definitely give him enough time make sure he doesn't give any less time don't forget that the boy has to walk the entire way back. They won't return from their honeymoon for another month and a half anyway. Now what is Paton planning?" Dr. Bloor asked.

"Well, after Maisie said she couldn't stand to remain in the house that Charlie had been in he decided to pack their bags and move into the house on Diamond Corner. They'll be moved in three days." Grizelda informed them.

"Can one of you three move in there?" Manfred asked the Yewbeam aunts.

"Now why should we do that?" Venetia retorted as everyone turned to stare at Manfred in confusion.

"Charlie will have to be restrained when he returns. We'll then need him to be brought here. We can take all the time it takes to bring him to our side and bend him to our will. It'll take at least two people to get him here. All of the endowed children have school and dad and I can't go there either. Mr. Weedon has his duties here as well which leaves you three and my grandfather and he will take a better role as one of the convincers." Manfred said irritably since no one else had realized this.

"You know he does have a point." Eustacia grumbled with the fact that it was more probable that she would be the one temporarily moving in four days. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

"The question is which one of us." Lucretia glanced at her younger sisters.

"Well don't look at me I have Eric to take care of." Venetia declared.

"Ladies here's a different plan. You switch days and on every weekend we will come down as well. If I do not participate it will be the miscreants in this school's fault. Manfred and my grandfather will always be there though." Dr. Bloor boomed.

"This is all about Charlie. Why did we have to come?" Joshua whined.

"Now all of you listen it is fatal here that you do not provoke the other endowed. Also when we get the boy you must make sure that you don't slip out something that makes them know we have him." Dr. Bloor warned.

"Agreed." All the endowed children said. "Can we go back to bed now sir? We have school tomorrow you know." They all reminded the headmaster that it was Tuesday night.

"We'd all better. We'll call all of you back a day after the boy is found. We may call on you separately to confirm that things are going as planned. Now go." Dr. Bloor ordered.