Right, time to get you lot worried…
Chapter 10
"Cat!" Millie exclaimed as the children walked in. "But how…"
"Maria?" Cat guessed.
"Millie." Janet corrected. She and Rodger must have told him this ten times between them on the walk up to the Castle.
"Yes, that's what I said" Cat replied irritably.
Millie looked incredibly confused. "But…what…?"
"How's Dad?" Rodger asked.
Millie was distracted. "Oh, Rodger my dear, he's really quite bad. I think if he's awake you should take Cat up to see him."
Janet and Rodger nodded and lead Cat upstairs, Millie following behind.
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Chrestomanci was propped up on his pillows so he could see properly. It certainly looked like Cat.
"Cat!" Julia shouted joyfully, running to hug him." Rodger put out an arm to stop her.
"And you must be…Jennifer?" Cat asked.
"Julia." corrected Rodger.
"I said that already!" Cat replied, annoyed.
Chrestomanci gave them all the vaguest most searching look he could possibly muster while he was ill. He coughed before speaking. "What…"
Rodger spoke. "He can't remember a thing, Dad."
Chrestomanci looked really worried. "But how did you…" Cough. "Get him here?"
"Oh, Daddy it was Janet's idea!" Julia said, eyes sparkling. "She called on Chrestomanci!"
Chrestomanci looked impressed. With hacking coughs between words, he said "Well…Janet…I would have…never thought of…that, I…" but then he had to break off.
"He looks really ill." Cat said worriedly. "Is there anything anyone can do to help?"
"You, Cat!" Janet replied. "We told you already, remember?"
"I can't!" Cat replied. "I can't cast spells! I can't do magic!"
"Cat, please remember!" Julia said tearfully. "My daddy needs you! The world needs you!" she paused. "I need you, Cat! And so does everyone else in the Castle!"
Cat looked at her hopelessly. "I'd like to help, but…"
"Con…Conrad." Chrestomanci said faintly. "He…he can help…he's travelled…he…"
"My love, don't speak. We'll call Conrad to help Cat to remember, and we'll get that band off of you before you know it. Just rest, Christopher." Millie urged him worriedly.
Chrestomanci closed his eyes obediently like a small child, and the four children and Millie looked at him worriedly for a few minutes before leaving the room.
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"Conrad!" Julia shouted, finding him in the Middle Drawing Room. "Mummy, I've found him!"
Conrad barely had time to blink, let alone answer Julia's call, before Millie arrived, accompanied by Rodger, Janet and…
"Eric! You found him?" Conrad said.
"Yes, but he can't remember a thing of his life, poor dear. Christopher said you could help, but…"
"How is Christopher?" Conrad demanded.
Millie gave him a look of despair.
Conrad's expression slipped. "Eric." he said, turning to Cat. "This won't be easy for you. It will be painful gaining back all the memories, the good and the bad."
Cat looked firm. "That man needs my help. I won't let anyone die if I can prevent it."
Janet saw Millie finger her engagement ring nervously.
"Very well, Eric. Millie, I shall need your help. And Michael's too, if he can."
"What can we do?" asked Julia and Rodger together in nervous voices.
"One of you must go to your father, keep him company." Millie said
"I'll go." Julia volunteered.
Conrad nodded. "Keep talking to him, even if he seems to be asleep."
Julia nodded and walked off.
"What about Janet and me?" Rodger asked.
Janet looked flattered he thought she could help.
"You two will need to stay with Eric at all times. Stay with him in his bedroom and listen to everything he says. It's important that you talk to him as well. He'll need the sounds of your voices to help him remember." Conrad replied.
Janet and Rodger looked at each other, then they, too, nodded.
"One of you run and fetch Michael." Conrad added.
Rodger did so.
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Janet and Rodger stood together, hand in hand, waiting outside the room while Millie, Conrad and Michael worked their magic.
The spell finished and they walked in.
"How do you feel, Cat?" Janet asked anxiously.
"Rather odd." Cat replied and then collapsed to the floor.
…heck, even I'm worried, and I'm writing it! Reviews?