Chapter II: Day Break
And so, at 5 o'clock in the morning, Alex (much to her displeasure) heard her alarm chirruping at her to awake. She grumpily punched the button to halt the infernal beeping, and tried to hold on to her last minutes of relaxation before the nerves took over.
This she couldn't do, however, because her elder brother, Justin, had decided to make sure everyone was ready for the big day. So he marched into her room megaphone in hand:
"Alex. I asked everyone to be up by 0500 hours, it is now 0506. Why are you still in bed?"
With that he unceremoniously ripped the covers from her bed leaving her in some grey pyjama bottoms and a 'Howl if you love wolves' t-shirt she'd borrowed from Mason, her boyfriend of several months. It was the longest time she'd been able to sustain a relationship, and despite the complications of a Wizard-Werewolf pairing she was happy with her choice of partner. He had a dog's attitude to loyalty and trust. His and Alex's love was far deeper than they allowed anyone (including each other) to see but they preferred it that way. Now, however, Mason wasn't here as her parents didn't want her to be distracted on her big day. The only man in her life right this second was currently lecturing her on punctuality.
"… As everyone knows the decorum in situations such as this –"
"– is to shut the hell up and leave me alone. For God's sake Justin, can't I have 5 minutes more sleep on the biggest day of my life?"
"Alex, you realise that Councillor Tootietootie is already here. It is now 0510 and we're leaving in 20 minutes."
"What? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well I tried to tell you at the briefing meeting at 2137 hours last night but you little Miss Lazy weren't paying attention." He leaned in whispering in a voice dripping with sarcasm, "Great start to the Wizard Competition, Alex."
A few minutes later Alex was stomping down the spiral stairway, where her mother and father (dressed in their best clothes) were hurriedly scoffing breakfast. Max was sitting uncomfortable in a suit, desperately trying to loosen his bow tie. Justin was following his sister down the stairs adjusting the crease on his trousers before tripping over and falling flat on his face. Alex burst into laughter. When her parents turned to see the source of the hilarity she said,
"C'mon, anyone filming that? That would completely bomb on Wiztube. Really? No one was filming that? Guess I'm the only cool one in this family. Then again I already knew that."
"Alex, why are you not in your dress. I picked it out for you months ago!" complained Theresa.
"Well one, it was three sizes too big, thanks for the optimism, mom. And second of all I'm not going to my family wizard competition dresses like Little Bo Peep!"
"Well if you don't something more suitable to wear you won't be going at all," came a familiar wheedling voice.
"Councillor Tootietootie, great to see you, is that a new robe?" asked Alex in her 'I want something voice.'
"Why yes it is Alex, and in case you were wondering no I haven't proposed a change magical law, regarding you and your soon to be ex-boyfriend if your attitude to this contest is to be taken into account," he said bluntly.
"What? No, I was just going to say that–"
"Hey guys," called Max from the terrace, "the transporter's on the roof.
"Alright Alex, I know I never condone this but just this once you can flash yourself onto the roof via some more appropriate attire. Once you're there you can get to the transporter," Jerry instructed. "You two," he gestured to his sons, "make sure you have everything, it's a 7 hour flight to the competition zone and I am not coming back here for whatever tacky good luck charms you feel are necessary."
Ten seconds later everyone was aboard the striking-looking vehicle and Alex looked splendid in a pale pink strapless dress. The siblings had all been given a rosette the colour of which denoted their rank and (what they felt was) their best attribute. Justin's grey showed intelligence, determination and strength as well as the rank of a Level 3 wizard and Level 4 Monster Hunter. Alex's crimson also bestowed the rank of Level 3 wizard, but also mystery, unpredictability and spontaneity. Meanwhile Max sported a bright orange giving him the advantage of a Level 4 wizard. In the final race for the family powers this bought him 30 seconds head-start. His ribbon also told onlookers that he was fiery, passionate and a force to be reckoned with.
As many people do in stressful situations the family reverted to type. Alex played on her wand apps, while Justin feverishly read his textbooks for the hundredth time. Max stared vacantly into space.
"Hey if this thing is at the place where we were a couple of years ago could we not just flash there, we know the way," grumbled Alex as she shifted on the uncomfortable chair.
Councillor Tootietootie looked up from his leaflet on preventing baldness which he was trying (and failing) to read surreptitiously. "Alex the whole area has a wildly amplified magical field. It's labelled as the top place to go to see a monster spawning, and the chances of you flashing in there and getting where you actually want to be are practically nil."
Justin (much to the surprise of everyone else) looked up sharply from his own reading material.
"Monsters spawning, did you say," his voice breaking towards the end. Justin's mind was leaping headlong towards a conclusion but Alex had got there first.
"Oh c'mon Justin not this again, she's gone, you have to get over it."
"I don't understand what's going on. Justin you've gone white as a sheet, what's wrong?" asked the flustered councillor. "You're not one to be scared of monsters."
"Tell me," inquired Alex innocuously, "would any of these monsters happen to have a preference for wearing bandages?"
"Oh you mean Mummies! Yeah sure this place is a real breeding ground for the bastards. A load of 'em still has lairs there."
Justin paled even further. The fact that he would be just a few miles away the hiding place of his girlfriend's kidnapper left him distraught. After all, even if Juliet was there, what could he do about it?
