Herissa was panicking. She had practiced all these years with her magic and was able to heal minor injuries now. But this was a big wound. Alex arm had fractured and blood was flowing continuously. She had been able to seal up the skin, but was unable to heal the fracture. And they would be found any moment now.
Earlier that day, twins still of eight years age…
Mr. Thomson, a close client of their uncle's firm, put down his cup of tea. He and Vernon were sitting in the living room. Alex was in the kitchen. Herissa was there too, she hurried down to the men to collect their cups.
Mr. Thomson noticed Herissa and smirked. "So, Vernon! How is life coming along with these two delinquents in the house? I hope they are not causing too much trouble."
Herissa was just by the kitchen when she heard him. She and Alex stiffened.
"Oh you cannot do anything about them Thomson. At the first chance, I am admitting them into the school for the incurable criminal. That way I don't have to put up with them all year long."
"Hmm… I can sympathise. I would have gotten rid of them too if not for the quarterly bonus you receive from their parents vault. Still couldn't find out which bank it is from? You can just collect all the money and get rid of them."
"Oh I am trying man. It looks to be something confidential. But I will find it sooner or later. I deserve all they have for taking these twins in."
"Okay then. I will fax you the contract details tomorrow. Goodbye Vernon." Mr. Thomson stood up to leave.
"That would be good. Goodbye."
As soon as the door closed behind the guest, Alex and Herissa stormed into the living room, both outraged.
"How dare you?" Alex spat, "How could you be taking OUR money and treating us like this?"
Herissa joined him, "I knew all that you were saying about our parents to be lies. I knew it! You are a greedy excuse for a human being if you can treat two kids like slaves."
"Shut up idiot! Do you think anyone else would take in a useless piece of filth like you in their home? Nah! At least your brother is good enough to work for his living. You are just a parasite leaching off others to survive. So don't go about lecturing how you should be treated." He slapped Herissa hard on her cheek.
Alex was outraged at his actions, "You steal money off our parents, you abuse two kids, and then you speak as if you are generous with your actions. We will report your actions uncle. Let's see how the police view your treatment. You will pay for your actions, uncle!"
Alex and Herissa ran towards the door to get out of the house. Meanwhile, Vernon was enraged at his money pit running away. He stormed towards the door just as Alex reached it. He took hold of lamp stand by the door and hit Alex in a full swing on his arm, breaking it and throwing him on the floor. Herissa rushed towards her brother, alarmed. Both looked up at Vernon standing over them.
"Now listen both of you! I was not asked to take you in. You were thrust upon me. I deserve every single penny that you have, for I could just have twisted your necks and dumped you in the garbage. Don't you dare question my authority in my house! I rule this house. And I will teach you what happens when you speak against the ruler."
He lifted the stand again to beat Herissa this time. Alex saw this and in an effort to protect his sister, pushed Vernon back into the room, where he fell down on the floor unconscious. (Alex was practising his magic too. He was now able to use it to enhance his actions strength) Herissa and Alex hurried out of the house. They rushed down the road towards the Main Road. Mrs. Figg, their old neighbour down the street and their occasional caretaker, watched them escape. She called out to them to stop,
"Where are you going kids?"
Herissa immediately thought of an excuse, "Oh, Alex here broke his arm. We are going to the hospital to get it bandaged. There is no one in the house at the moment."
She looked at them with her piercing eyes before nodding and walking back into her house. Sighing in relief, both of them went to the main road and called a taxi.
"Please take us to the hospital on the west-end of London. Our family doctor works there. We have to get his arm checked immediately."
The driver nodded and drove them to Charing Cross Road in the west end of London. He dropped them off at the Serene Hospital. Herissa, who had anticipated them leaving when they accused Uncle Vernon, had pocketed the shopping money Aunt keeps in the kitchen. She paid for the taxi and both looked around. This part of the town was intriguing, with a collection of specialist and second-hand bookshops and more general second hand and antiquarian shops. This was far away from Whinging Street and a locality where Uncle Vernon would not like to visit. The twins spotted a small seemingly abandoned house at the end of a street which seemed to be falling apart.
They went to the house. The roof was half fallen already and the door seemed to be still hanging only because it was closed. This street seemed to be occupied by the labour class, who did menial jobs to survive. This was a good place to hide. The door fell open with a slight push. Inside, it was very dark and damp, full of dust and cobwebs, as if the house was abandoned very long ago. There was hall with a bathroom and a kitchen. Though the house smell was dusty and dry, at least the water supply was still there through the pipes. There was no electricity, and so no lighting. But they could not see how they could afford it to be installed here without giving themselves away.
It was there Herissa was trying to heal her brother, because going to the hospital was out of question now. They would ask for parents or guardians. By now, she could feel the magic when it was at work, as if it was speaking to her. She developed her skills that way. She was completely attuned to magic and could watch, guide and mentor its working. Alex could not do that, but he could still use his magic to do things. The difference between the two of them was that, while Herissa was would always know how to do something, she was not always able to as her input power was not sufficient. On the other hand, Alex would think of the end result and try to force his magic to accomplish that end. It did not always work, but whenever it did, it cost him no effort.
Today, Herissa could see through her magical scan that the bone was broken and knew how to direct her magic to mend it. But her magic was not enough. Mending that bone would require more than what she had. Her brother was noe writhing on the floor in pain. She knew that it would be dangerous for her brother if not healed soon. She started sobbing.
"sniff, sniff, I am useless. I am so sorry Alex. It is my entire fault. Oh, I wish I was strong enough like you. I am so sorry."
"Shh Shh Herissa", coaxed Alex, trying to suppress his pain. "It's, Ahhhh, it is not your fault. We would not have survived there with those villains. And all the magic I have is useless anyway. I wish I could just give it to you."
Herissa looked up in surprise at her brother's statement. Immediately, she could work out how to take some her brother's power through their twin link. She decided to try that.
"Alex! Alex! Listen to me. May I try to use some of your power to heal you? Maybe that would work. Please?"
Alex, still in pain, just nodded.
So Herissa surveyed inside him. She could literally sense his magic coursing through him. A tentacle of magic connected her to her brother and she followed it, only to find a vast powerhouse of energy. She did not knew what would happen if she immersed herself into that, so she just drew enough amount necessary and directed it towards that wound. She coaxed and directed the magic to heal the bones and could feel magic happily comply with her wishes. In just a minute, Alex was healed.
Alex sat up and looked down at his arm to find it healed. He jumped up and hugged his sister, thanking her continuously.
"thank you! thank you! thank you!"
"Ha ha you are welcome."
"I will never understand how you are so comfortable with magic, but I am so happy to be on the same side. Can you really watch magic work and make it do things."
Herissa was happy, "Yes, I can watch and make magic work. But dear god Alex, this was the first time I watched your magic level. It's huge! Enormous! Once you too learn how to tap into that, you could do practically anything."
Both siblings were giddy at being able to accomplish something new. Suddenly, they heard the sounds of siren nearby. It may not be for them, but still Herissa panicked. Alex thought of what to do. This was his sister, and he would go to hell before being separated from her. Suddenly and idea struck him.
"Herissa! Herissa! Can you really guide magic to do something you want to? Because there could be a way out!"
Herissa hesitated, "Maybe? I don't know till I try."
Alex put a comforting arm on Herissa's shoulder, "Herissa! This is a way to get rid of those Durselys and no one finding us. We can live here in peace. Please try you best. Can you guide magic to make this house invisible? As in, no one should be able to see or hear anything from here."
Herissa's mind circulated with possibilities. As if magic was her friend, she could automatically visualize how that can be achieved and what power would be needed to be put where. Alas! She just did not have enough. Her face dropped.
"It can be done, but not by me. I just don't have enough power to fuel the security. Sorry Alex."
But Alex face brightened, "Oh don't lose hope so quick. You just healed my arm with my magic right. Why don't you just augment your magic with mine to accomplish this?"
"I don't know Alex. Before, I was just guiding your magic heal you. I don't know if I can draw it into me."
"Try Herissa. Please try."
Herissa nodded and closed her eyes. She could feel herself drawing magic from Alex through their link. It was uncomfortable. Her body was not prepared to hold this much magic, it needed to be spent immediately. When it was just enough, she let the magic scan around the house as if ascertaining a good distance around it to ward. When confirmed with the area, she coaxed the magic in required ways, unknowingly drawing required high level runes with magic along the borders and powering them, to set the place within those borders invisible to anyone but them. Once complete she opened his eyes. She felt drained and weak, as she has used much of her power to do so. Alex was looking at her in hopeful anticipation.
"Done!" Herissa assured him.
With Alex's support, both of them walked to the window. "See there, 20 meters around this house is the border. The people walking on the road won't see this house. No one will be able to find us if we are within that perimeter."
"Are you sure?" Alex asked. Herissa nodded tiredly.
They continued watching as a few people moved about. No one bothered with two kids in an abandoned house. No one even looked at the house. The twins slumped down in relief.
"You are awesome, Herissa"
"You are a powerhouse, Alex"
Both grinned at each other. Now the 'how to survive' part. The money Herissa had snatched would buy them food for 3 days, but they would need to find work soon. Also, the house was falling apart. They would need to clean and repair it to live in it. Though, that was not urgent. They at least had a place to sleep and stay.