The Whitby Witches 3: The Whitby Child by Robin Jarvis Read Free Book Online

reassure myself and remember."
    "I know that," Ben finally managed to say. "I like to see them too, but you hide the album from me."
    Jennet snapped the pages shut and reared her head, determined to ask what had been burning there for many months.
    "I want you to tell me," she began. "I want to know and this will be the only time I'll ever ask." She took a deep breath. It was difficult for her to broach this subject; she had always hated her brother's second sight, because it made him different and had only caused them trouble in the past. But this was important and the girl had to know for certain.
    "Tell me," she said again, "do you still see them? Do you see the ghosts of Mum and Dad?"
    There, she had said it and the relief she felt once the rush of words had tumbled out was immense.
    Ben could only gape at her. She never willingly talked about his "visitors" as he called them, and the question took him by complete surprise.
    "Well?" she demanded. "Do you? Do they still come to you at night like they used to? Are they concerned about us? Have they changed in any way? Do they look the same as on the day they died—the same as they did in these photos?"
    Jennet was shivering now and her eyes shone with a wild and frantic light that alarmed and bewildered her brother.
    "I... I don't know," he stammered.
    "What do you mean?" she snapped back. "Have you or haven't you? Do they still care about us? Do they care about what happens? What about me—do they ever mention me? I must know! It's important—tell me!"
    "No!" the boy yelled. "No, I haven't seen them. The last time was that night Aunt Alice had a séance when we first arrived and I saw Mum."
    "But that was ages ago!" she shouted back. "Are you trying to tell me they haven't been back since? I don't believe you! Mum and Dad loved us—they loved me! They'd want us to know they still cared. You're a liar! You have seen them! You have!"
    Tears streamed down her face but her heart was filled with anger. Fiercely, Jennet seized Ben by the shoulders and shook him violently.
    "You're a foul, spoilt monster!" she bawled. "Is it because I won't let you see the album? Is that why you're telling me these lies? I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! I wish you'd died with them!"
    "Jen!" her brother wailed. "You're hurting! Stop it!"
    "What's all that noise?" called Miss Wethers from downstairs. "Go to sleep the pair of you!"
    In disgust, Jennet threw Ben against the pillows, snatched up the album and stormed from the room..
    Ben winced as the door slammed shut and rattled in its frame. From Jennet's room there came the sound of her stomping, then the bed groaned as she cast herself upon it, followed by a flood of bitter and miserable tears.
    As the night deepened, sleep washed over both children and they were lost in fitful slumbers.
    Whitby grew dark; only the buzzing street lamps shone in the town, for every house light was extinguished as all inhabitants sought their rest. The small houses that balanced upon the brink of the river now stared with unlit windows down at their reflections and silence spread through the swaddling night.
    The mouth of the River Esk was calm and still. In the harbour, countless fishing boats bumped softly against each other, bobbing languidly upon the high tide. A group of gulls lazily rode the swollen waters and with mournful voices they gossipped and jeered.
    The water of the harbour was dark, black as jet—yet beneath the waves something far blacker was moving.
    Between the two piers that stretched far into the sea, a rush of bubbles suddenly shattered the smooth face of the tide. Waves began to foam as from the deeps something surged, passing beneath the shadows of the lighthouses and drifting towards the distant town.
    Floating contentedly, the chattering gulls washed their beaks and shook their weary heads. With a peevish peck at its closest neighbour, one of the larger ones stretched its wings and prepared to take to the air.
    Abruptly it was