Alright, it's been a while! So I got that cover art that I was talking about online on deviantart so take a look at that if you want. Just type Charlie bone in the search box and go to newest. It's the one by zeppelin 15 or something like that since I can't remember my username. Uhhh... Yeah. Oh and Venetia Yewbeam, sorry bout the language. And also you asked if I had a laptop to type on or something of that nature. Nope. I got nothing. My grandma does and I go there on weekends so I type on my iPod during the week and send it to my email and upload it there. It's a pain but there's nothing I can do. Anyway, ONWARD!

I don't own Charlie Bone.

WARNING: Stronger language than usual. If you don't like it, sorry. Also if you don't like it, try and pretend it's not there or that there are bleeps or something.

Chapter 4:

Charlie decided on not telling anybody about his trip to the Da Vinci Tower when they all met at the Pets' Cafe on Sunday. It would only get him into trouble that he didn't need. Better kept a secret for his sake. He would just make them think that when they went up there it would be his first time as well.

After they left Emma, Charlie, Billy and Fidelio decided to go to the bookshop. Charlie wasn't quite ready to go home yet and it would be good to see his uncle. He wanted to ask him a question. That was really the only reason he ever went to the bookshop unless it was to see Emma or look for a book to help him with a school project.

"Would you kids like some tea?" Julia asked as the four sat down at the table. She and Paton were already enjoying their own cups of tea before the kids came in.

"Sure," Charlie said. "Thanks."

"Heard you got detention again," Paton said over the brim of his mug.

Charlie leaned back in his chair. "You know, I'm suddenly not up for tea. I think I'll just go home and nap."

Paton smiled a little at his nephew. "What was it for this time?"

Charlie grinned sheepishly. "I fell asleep in English. My parents weren't very happy to hear that bit of news."

"How is that news?" Fidelio asked.

"It seems like something you would do," Emma added.

Charlie glared half-heartedly at his two friends. "I resent that."

Soon everyone had there tea and things had calmed down. The room had a peaceful atmosphere and Charlie was sad to ruin it with his next question. Leaning forward a bit in his seat he asked, "Have you noticed anything odd, uncle?"

Paton sighed. "And now we come to why you are really here. I knew it couldn't be just to see your uncle."

"You caught me."

Paton shook his head. "I have not noticed anything out of the odd, not that I am very observant during the day. But it would help if we knew what was behind it all."

"Could it be Mrs. Tiplin?" Billy wondered.

"But she left along with all of the others," Fidelio reminded him.

"That doesn't mean she can't be back," Emma cut in, then added thoughtfully, "Though there hasn't been any sign of her or anyone else since they left."

Charlie looked at his uncle. He had to ask now while they were on the subject of Tiplin. "Do you think she still has the painting?" he asked, silently hoping that his uncle might have something to say about the whereabouts of the infamous painting of Badlock.

"It's quite possible," Paton said. "Though she have even given it to one of my sisters for safekeeping. She wouldn't trust it with anybody else and she wouldn't leave it anywhere, not with the power it holds."

"What power?" Billy asked, shivering at the thought of Badlock and wondering how he could have liked it there. "The enchanter is dead. Gone. Shouldn't the painting be worthless to her now?"

Charlie froze, staring at his uncle and waiting to see how he would answer. The two shared a quick look and Paton said, "Mrs. Tiplin might have hopes that the count escaped and is still searching for a way to contact him without the mirror."

"But the count is dead right?" Fidelio asked. "I mean, we all saw it happen."

"Of course he is," Paton assured them. Charlie wished he had that power to be able to put everyone at ease like that. Everyone just took his uncle's word and left it at that.

•••

On Tuesday they all got a surprise during break. It was a good one though. Charlie and a few other guys were all playing soccer despite the slush on the ground. That just added to the game somehow. Made it more difficult to stay in control of your feet and the ball.

Soccer was something Charlie found himself very good at. He didn't play it very much, but he had a certain skill at the sport. Not that he bragged about it though. It was just something to do when he was bored during break.

Charlie was currently in control of the ball, maneuvering it down the makeshift field drawn in the slush. He passed it to Fidelio who passed to Dagbert who kicked it back to Charlie. Charlie stopped the ball with his foot and watched everyone pass him, slipping when they tried to stop. Perfect. He dribbled the ball down the field before something caught his eye and he stopped in his tracks again. The ball rolled away from him and the boys all went after it, not pausing to see what distracted Charlie.

Olivia Vertigo was standing next to Emma and Charlie grinned. Emma was avoiding Olivia's swinging arms as she waved frantically to Charlie. Charlie completely forgot about the game and began to walk over to her. Just as he lifted his foot, Simon Hawke kicked the ball in a line drive across the field. Charlie was in the line of fire. The soccer ball collided with his head and he staggered to the side before losing his balance and landing in the slush.

By the time Charlie had stumbled over to her, Olivia was laughing hysterically and leaning on Emma for support. "Nice to see you too, Liv."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Sorry Charlie. I forgot how sensitive you were." she laughed at Charlie's pout and pulled him into a tight hug. "But it's still good to see you. Em told me what's been going on."

"Good, now I won't have to." Charlie smiled, happy that she was back. Now he Might get into the tower since she would definitely go with him.

Olivia greeted everyone else before they got back onto the subject of the Da Vinci Tower. "When to you want to go up?" she asked and Charlie grinned wider.

"I was hoping the you would say that. I wanted to go last week but apparently nobody had the time and they all said that I wasn't allowed to go alone."

"What if you went and got hurt, hmm?" Emma asked, crossing her arms. Charlie's grin nearly faltered but thankfully the hunting horn rang. Saved by the bell. Charlie began walking toward the school.

"I'd have risked it."

•••

Sadly the Da Vinci Tower was a no go that week. Again. Every time Charlie tried to talk to Olivia about it they were interrupted by people wanting to know what Africa was like. It was also too hard for her to slip out at night because the girls in her dorm had always been awake long into the night, telling her things that had happened while she was away, namely Charlie and Daphne's breakup. Even Emma had been getting annoyed, not being able to hold a conversation with her friend without being interrupted.

So on Thursday Charlie slipped into the purple cafeteria during breakfast to find Olivia. He found her sitting with a few other girls who all seemed to be talking at once. He rolled his eyes. Typical drama girls.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said, catching their attention.

"Oh, Charlie what are you doing here?" Olivia asked in exasperation. "You know you will get caught. You always do."

Charlie smirked and sighed dramatically. "And yet it hasn't stopped me from breaking nearly every rule that this school has to offer. When will I learn?"

Olivia rolled her eyes. It wasn't like she was much better at following the rules. "So what did you want?"

Charlie glanced around, very aware that several were listening to them. That wouldn't do. He looked to where Fidelio was peeking through the door, silently telling him to hurry up. He nodded to his friend in acknowledgment before turning back to Olivia. "Come with me For a minute."

Olivia nodded in understanding and stood up from her seat. "This had better be quick Charlie Bone, I want my breakfast."

Charlie grinned and bowed. "Of course." Olivia rolled her eyes and stood up. They walked toward the far wall of the purple cafeteria where Charlie leaned against the white painted stone and Olivia crossed her arms in wait. "I think we should wait until things cool down around here to go to the tower," he said while scratching at the paint. They really need to do something about the cafeteria walls. They're incredibly boring, even in the drama cafeteria. Maybe the art one is different.

Olivia sighed. "I know. I'm sorry. And I would try to get detention this week but I have to unpack still."

Charlie shrugged. "I wouldn't really want to risk another detention so soon. My parents are getting a little fed up."

Olivia grinned. "So next week then. For sure."

Charlie nodded and pushed against the wall with his shoulder so that he was standing straight again. "Deal. I'll see you at break. Fido looks like he might piss himself any second if I don't get out of here soon."

"Alright. Go on and leave me to my breakfast!"

Charlie laughed and headed toward the door where Fidelio seemed to have disappeared and Olivia went back to her seat. She looked over her shoulder as she sat down just in time to see Charlie run into Zachariah Perk. Her friend stood there gaping for several moments trying to find something to say. She laughed. Fidelio mist have seen him coming and run off to avoid detention since he couldn't get Charlie's attention. She watched Perk shake his head and drag Charlie away.

•••

During break a very disgruntled Charlie walked with Dagbert and Gabriel onto the grounds. Thanks to Fidelio he'd gotten lines for not being where he should be. But that was wiped from Charlie's mind when he saw a large crowd next to the wall of the ruins. Some were cheering someone on as though there was a fight. Curious, the three boys ran up to the crowd and Charlie made a path through. It wasn't hard since when they saw him the students immediately let him, Dagbert, and Gabriel through, which was strange.

However it soon became apparent why they all let them through. Charlie was shocked to see Olivia screaming at Bragger Braine and attacking him with her nails. Charlie couldn't even make out what she was saying and turned to Emma who he'd ended up next to. She was chewing her nails on one hand and using her other to clutch Fidelio's sleeve nervously.

"What the hell is going on?"

Emma jumped a little at the anger in his voice. She knew that he hated Bragger with a passion and it was obvious that he'd done something to set Olivia off like this. She was actually a little afraid to tell Charlie what he said and Fidelio looked just as reluctant. But Charlie might be able to do something to stop it.

"Bragger called Liv something." Charlie stared waiting for more. "He called her a stupid slut. Among other things…"

Charlie growled, but something seemed off. Bragger, though a bully who constantly picked fights, stayed away from insulting girls. He also stayed away from insulting any of the endowed. So why would he kill two birds with one stone now? Charlie looked at Fidelio. "You get Liv."

The two boys ran toward the one-sided fight. Well, mostly one-sided. Bragger suddenly grabbed Olivia's arm and pushed her away. Fidelio grabbed her before she could get back at Bragger and she struggled. Bragger stepped forward but Charlie forcefully pushed him back a few feet.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he snarled.

"Stay out of this Bone!" the other boy shouted but Charlie noticed something weird about him. His eyes had a sort of glazed, distanced look and there was something strange in his voice. Charlie, in his anger, brushed it off.

Out of the corner of his eye, Charlie saw Olivia knee Fidelio between the legs and dart toward them. He had half a mind to just let her attack Bragger again but couldn't risk any teachers coming out now, or Perk who usually holed himself in his office during the cold morning breaks. It was bad enough that they had the prefects outside, though they weren't doing their jobs.

In the end Charlie grabbed Olivia around the waist at the last second and hauled her back, several feet away from Bragger. He spun her around to face him and kept a fir grip on her shoulders. "Liv, you need to calm down! What did he say to you?"

"That dick called me a stupid, no talent slut!"

"What else?" Charlie demanded. None of this sounded like the Bragger Braine he new and loathed. Then he saw a red mark on her cheek and gently turned her face to the side. "Did he hit you?"

Olivia looked unsure, not liking anything about the look in Charlie's eyes. "I'm pretty sure it was an accident."

So that's a yes. Charlie turned around and stormed back up to Bragger, his mind swirling with rage. There was no way to accidentally smack someone across the face hard enough to leave a mark. What was Bragger thinking, hitting Olivia like that? Charlie didn't care what his enemy had been thinking actually, the thing was, he'd sone it. Charlie grabbed Bragger by the shoulder and threw his fist into Bragger's jaw. The crowd cheered, most likely drawing every teacher in the school to the fight. Charlie grabbed Bragger's shirt and pulled him up before pushing him back into the wall of the ruin, briefly wondering why the other boy wasn't fighting back. He even looked… confused? What could he possibly be confused about.

Charlie let go of him and took a step back. "If you ever touch her again or even speak a word to her unless it's to apologize, I'll beat your head into your ass. The same goes for any of my friends."

Charlie walked away, shoving through the crowd and effectively scaring the wits out of a few younger students. He didn't know what just came over him. That was not Charlie Bone back there. Be was usually calm and cool. That was anything but calm.

Eventually his friends caught up to him next to the tree line. They were all wide-eyed at his way out of character behavior, even though they all realized that it shouldn't be so surprising. If it had been anybody else who hit Olivia, Charlie would have done the same thing. If it was a guy anyway.

Finally Dagbert grinned. "You just put Braine in his place!"

"Something that's been needing to be done for years!" Tancred added, cracking his knuckles.

Charlie shrugged and looked at Olivia. She still had the red mark on her cheek and was looking down. "You alright?"

"Yeah. But you look a little… off."

Charlie rubbed the back of his neck. He was feeling pretty off too. He wasn't a fighter. But guess what? He just punched a guy in the face and told him he would beat his head into his ass. "Yeah, I'm feeling a little weird. What Bragger did though, fighting with you and saying what he did, that wasn't like him. And neither was not fighting back."

"Maybe this is the sort of thing we should be looking out for," Lysander said causing them all to look at him. Charlie clenched his fists at the thought, remembering Bragger's eyes. Yes, that was quite possible.

A/N: Finally, right? Once again, sorry about all of the PROFANITY. Especially in this chapter. But anyway, this is where everything starts happening. This and the next chapter.

8-28-11 I think. I actually have no clue what the date is.