by Ronald Craig
‘Why is it so hot during the day and so cold at night?' He smiles, despite the exhaustion.
Mother looks up.
‘It's not uncommon dear,' Mother says jovially towards Reg' her husband. ‘English weather is unpredictable. Remember hail and ice fell in the middle of last summer.'
‘Hmm,' Father hummed. ‘It's got to be the magic of some kind.'
‘What are you both looking at?' Nina asks.
It's a book on magic items. We are trying to find what's needed to fill the black gem. You still have it safe?'
‘Yes, it's safe Mam.' Nina's hesitant. She wonders about the plan she's about to undertake without her best friend. The risks and dangers she'll face. Better keep everyone safe rather than risk her family.
‘Okay, I'm going to follow some clues.' Her parents look up and reach to embrace their precious daughter. ‘We're with you,' they say. Relck, and his absence echoes in their thoughts; their inward pain shows on the faces of desperate parents. They are fanatical internally. Nina is feeling more intense, strangely keen to face what lurks in the dark. Saying her goodbyes, she disappears up the stairs to her room. Nina leaves the book on her bed, with the page open to reveal her intentions. One more glance at the words on the page, the night shadows, putting the gem in her witch's pouch she takes out her telescope. With a deep breath, she lifts the black lens to her eye. ‘The unforgotten family known as the night shadows.' She says. The magic gift transports her to the destination. She disappears.
An unfamiliar warmth fills her senses; she wears a jumper and jeans, and they are uncomfortable. It's too hot. This place is strangely different; the sky is darkening as the night begins to draw in. An orange glow remains from a still warm setting sun hanging on the edge of the sea. A warmth fills the air, and there's a beach in the distance. A smile appears on her face. Toots would say this is a warning and behave accordingly, and inside Nina would agree. The atmosphere is mysterious. There is also gentleness in the air. Something bothers Nina. The sound of a whisper seems to come and go or is it the sounds of the sea that echo around her quietly, then vanish without wind to carry the noise? She can't fathom it out. This magic world is strange. Whatever it is, maybe it's dangerous? Not giving away what the whispers say, they become inaudible sounds. Looking around, a house in darkness stands next to trees. The trees are thick black hiding in the shadows of a surrounding cliff edge that also partly covers the house. Branches from the trees hang, like shapely jagged teeth guarding what lies within. It is an unfamiliar place.
‘A foreign place I don't know,' Nina thinks, and she is worried.
'What I seek lives in this dark house, but what hides in the dark?' Mr Stupple told her there are scarier things than him in the shadows and at this moment she agrees.
With a deep breath, Nina reaches for her wand, but she decides not to withdraw it. Toots enters her mind. She wishes he was with her not only for support but realising she is more protective and her senses are sharp when Toots is with her. She is more of a witch with Toots around. A spell comes to mind, apt for the strange happenings of the night.
‘Witchy witchy woo, hear my cry. I offer you a wing of a bat, eye of newt and tail of a rat.' She sprinkles magic dust on the floor, ‘through the warmest day and coldest of night. Give me the power of ice.' The ice glows blue. She is ready to cast at what lurks in the dark.
‘I must have a witch’s plan,' she thinks. ‘Father would say never let the magic world surprise you. A good witch is always prepared.' Hesitantly walking in the soft sand, an unfamiliar path emerges towards an empty house. Nina reaches the front door. She looks around, her senses give way, and she has no fears. It is straightforward. The wand is up against her sleeve; a witch’s trick Mother taught her. At the ready, she turns the door handle. A shadow from behind startles her as the dark figure shows its face in the reflection of the glass of the door. She turns quickly on her toes, but nothing's there? ‘It's started,' she thinks. The night shadows make their presence known, Nina is aware, and this puts her on edge. But she has no choice other than to continue. Opening the door suddenly, the hallway is lit as a gust of wind blows from behind her into the house. It's dull, and shadows fill the hallway. There’s a small amount of light albeit from faint candles lit, hanging from the walls. The doors open. She may need to run from evil or wickedness that lies in wait. The house is still. The atmosphere and warmth from outside follow her. Now she has a feeling someone is watching, shadows fill the house in every corner, and the old-fashioned sideboard seems to cast a darkness. ‘Father would like these,' she thinks. ‘He's very old-fashioned.' The house is ancient. It's made mostly of wood and cream wallpaper. The wooden floor creaks and cracks with every step, making her presence heard all too easily. Passing a dark room to her left her mind tracks to a room at the back of the house. A flickering light shows shadows in the hall as if someone is walking around. She reaches the room peering into a dining room filled with furniture and photos are covering the walls. She notices outer double doors that are closed on the other side of the room as if hiding something. Interest takes over. Nina looks at the photo's as she enters the room. A familiar face catches her eye. It is a younger looking person she recognises. A shadow from behind reflects in the glass of the photograph. She is startled and on edge. She quickly turns. No one is there. ‘My mind must be playing tricks,' she thinks. Nina is looking back at the photo. From behind it, a slender old worn hand creeps out from the shadows. A wand is about to touch Nina's head.
Suddenly Nina says quietly, ‘why is there a picture of you here?'
The spell castor retracts back into the shadows, as if curious by her comment. There is a scraping across the floor. A chair moves from the dining table. Nina freezes, her stomach churns, but a witch never shows fear, she tells herself. She turns to see a woman at the table. The woman wears vintage clothes, comprising a white blouse and long dark skirt. Her hairs tied up, teeth blackened and she's not wearing any jewellery. She has no distinguishing marks. She could be anyone. The stranger stares intensely at Nina. There's something familiar about this little girl.
‘Are you a thief, little girl?'
Nina looks on straight-faced, unsure of the situation. Maybe due to her age or her witch's sense, but best to let this woman at the table play her hand.
‘Who are you? You don't look like the three-eyed witch.'
The strange woman smiles as if amused by the situation.
‘There's a prerequisite for this conversation, what have you got to offer?'
Nina is bemused. This woman is challenging her intelligence. Nina lifts her wand if only for show rather than casting. She had kept it tucked on her inside arm, her witch's surprise. As she is about to make a challenge, a shadow appears beside her. A wand presses directly on Nina's temple.
‘Ah ah ah,' croaks a witch. Nina hears the warning and drops her wand back down to her side. Now she is aware that the two witches surround her.
‘Sit!' Said the witch across the table. ‘We will see what Trek thinks of you.' The woman turns and looks at a grandfather clock behind her. Nina thinks of the Fosters home and their grandfather clock. Something hides inside. The door to the clock opens. A wiry old grey large dog, with piercing orange eyes, appears from the dark door. The dog glares at the girl, his stare fixes, tracking Nina's every movement. He lifts his head and sniffs the air and turns to the witch who is sitting in the chair. He speaks, ‘I don't like the smell of her, something's different about this girl'. Nina is perplexed because she has never heard a dog talk. It is a witch's friend no doubt. The look on her face gives away her questions. ‘You've never seen a familiar thief?'
‘I'm no thief?'
‘So, what are you doing here?'
‘I'm looking for the three-eyed witch.'
The witch sits up straight and scowls in surprise. The dog looks at the witch standing next to Nina. ‘She's trouble, send her to the Dark Mother.'
‘The Dark Mother?' Asks Nina.
The dog turns and leaves not
interested in the situation, returning from whence it came. The witch at the table speaks.
‘What to do with you? Who do you recognise in the photo?' She points to the pictures on the wall.
‘Is that a prerequisite?' Nina is clever you see.
The witch at the table is somewhat pleased this little witch is intelligent.
loud footstep thuds from upstairs, surprising and making every witch in the room feel unchained. It serves to shake the confidence of the two witches.
‘In the name of the Dark Mother who is this?' one of the witches worriedly states.
Slow, loud footsteps indicate a person descending the stairs. The witch at the table scrapes her chair, and this vibrates through the floor putting Nina on edge. Wands at the ready, the witches look at each other. There is a noise, the creaking metal of the door handle turning, the door leads to the staircase. The door opens, the witches look on in shock. ‘Father!' Nina exclaims, so pleased that he follows her clues. Reginald looks at the witch close to Nina. The witch withdraws her wand and smiles sheepishly at her father. She is nervous and attempts to pat Nina on the shoulder as if she is comforting her. The witch by the chair also drops her hand to her side. Father doesn't pay her any attention. He takes two steps towards Nina, then pauses, and silence fills the air. Father lifts a wand and says, ‘let those who are hidden be seen now,' with an angry tone. He flicks his wand at a shady corner of the ceiling and a flash surges into the dark. A witch is hanging from the ceiling, as the spell takes effect. She drops to the floor with a clatter.
‘I have never seen you do magic, Dad? And your wand is black as the night.' So many questions run through Nina's mind.
He didn't say a spell to Mother Nature, how is this possible? Is he like Grandma. And why are these witches scared of him? He continues to walk towards his daughter, full of confidence. Nina is happy.
The two witches move to the far end of the table as the other witch scrambles to her feet. Father looks and sighs. They test his patience. ‘You put a wand to my daughter, and you'll regret it.'
There was a mumbled stuttered apology to evoke sympathy.
‘She didn't tell us who she was so how were we to know?' We would never hurt a child.
‘Sisters, what do you think I should do with you?'
Nina frowns at her father. Sisters!
Father looks at Nina. ‘These are the three-eyed witches. They use their power as one, making them even more powerful. Did you tell them why you are here?'
‘No.'
‘Should we get introductions?' One of the witches asks.
Father sighs, not at all happy with the situation.
‘These are my sisters three, all born under the veil of a black moon. They are here for the Dark Mothers bidding.'
‘I'm Trudie,' said the witch that sat at the table. ‘We didn't know we have a niece.'
‘You have a nephew as well, he's called Relck,' Nina eagerly informs them, as she puts her wand away distinguishing the spell. The witch smiles as they size each other up as if something about the name is familiar. ‘We would like to meet him as well if Reg' would allow it?' Nina waits for her father to answer their question. ‘That's one of the reasons Nina's here. He's taken the oath of the Watchers.' Trudie's presence changes. She looks as though she knows how he feels.
‘We all have heartaches that we bare!'
Nina's confused. What's Trudie saying? ‘We are here to find my son nothing more.'
The third Witch is shorter than the other two, huddled and hunched over and she whispers and murmurs. Father notices Nina's glare.
‘This Is Delphia, the favourite of my sisters,’ he says, sarcastically. 'She talks to those who are no longer here'. Nina frowns. 'Dead people. Those that live on the other side,' he shrugs, not knowing himself for sure.
The taller witch splutters in confusion, ‘he's a Watcher?' Her name is Felisha. Father explains the Whosley’s family life curses, heartache and tribulations. He begins to tell them a way that Nina and her friends may have found to reach Relck, by the black gem. Nina reaches into her witch's pouch and places the rather large gem on the table. The three witch's eyes are transfixed on the gem. ‘May we,' Trudie asks?
Father picks up the gem and walks over to them. ‘We believe it needs filling with magic again for it to work.' He then hands it over to his sisters. As he did, Trudie reaches out to receive it, looking at the gem in the light of the candles. She turns to Nina and says, ‘I'm Trudie your favourite Auntie, if I may be so forward,' looking towards Father for his approval. These are the first word Nina had heard her speak clearly. Father reaches out and hugs Trudie, as he does, so she begins whispering. She looks at the gem again, ‘hmm, very dull?' She starts whispering out of the corner of her mouth. ‘I never pointed a wand at you, remember that when you choose your favourite Auntie.' She looks at her brother, ‘I wonder?'
‘No!' He replies as if talking in some unknown language.
Trudie interrupts. You know she is the only one that can fix it, you know how it works.' ‘This could be a witch’s trick, doesn't look magic to me only.' She stops. ‘It has a spell attached to it, but no magic is omitting from within. The three sisters and Father look at Nina and then towards the door on the other side of the room.
Felisha speaks.
‘Don't look so frightened my dear, it will be terrifying and some horrible creature from the blackness of the eternal pit may eat at you but remember it will only hurt.' Felisha cackles with amusement at her remarks. A joke no doubt, Nina thinks.
‘What's going on Dad?'
‘We need to ask the Dark Mother, but more you, than we, my sweet girl. Sorry to put you through this as you're so young. We never know what's going to happen.'
‘What, I have to speak to her?'
‘Not directly. It's a mirror of sorts to the other side. Only you will see who's there, and what’ll happen.'
They all lead Nina to the double doors. Delphia lights the room with her wand. It's so dull and dark that she can barely see past the centre of this mysterious space. Sat in the middle of the room are a table and chair. On the table sits a worn mirror. The table holds scattered parchment. It's special though. ‘You have to sit and write your questions on the parchment and light a candle by magic in front of the mirror, and someone will answer you. Don't be afraid they are on the other side and can't harm you,' says Delphia.
Father and his sisters all stand and watch as Nina walks over to the table, pausing before she sits. She reaches into her witch's pouch, pulls out her wand and throws a pinch of magic dust on the floor while whispering her magic words.
And offers her plea for a spell to Mother Nature.
With a swish, swoosh and spark of her wand, the candle wick ignites.
She sits down in the chair and picks up a quill from an ink pot and writes. ‘How do I fill a gem that has lost its power?'
Suddenly the doors slam shut leaving the room in darkness. Strangely the candle is glowing black and red. The mirror takes on form and dull silver. A strange smell in the room puts Nina on edge. It's coming from the candle. There in front of Nina, an old woman on the other side of the mirror appears. She can see a room with a cauldron and fire making it boil and bubble. The flickering of the flames cast shadows. Nina is uncertain of the situation. Her heart races and her senses ignite her inquisitive mind. The old woman on the other side writes rapidly. ‘Welcome to the family. You will now always have the shadows at your side,' the old woman's finger points to a black wand on her side of the reflection, much like Fathers. The old woman begins writing again.
‘You must follow the echoes of the past and meet with the Architect.'
The candle then distinguishes, leaving the mirror dark.
Standing from the seat facing the mirror, Nina turns to see the doors open; her anxious Father greets her. She can see he wants to know what was said. She ponders with excitement at what adventures lead before her.
‘A pot of tea anyone?' Felisha asks with a smile. ‘There may
be even a witch’s bun left, it's full of bat wings and warts of toad, even a rat’s whisker if you're lucky.' She takes the smiles and silence as a yes and then goes to complete her task.
‘Sit at the table,' Delphia said. 'I'll get some more chairs,' excited at having visitors over. She returns with enough chairs for all and insists that they all sit. ‘I will tell you about your Father,' as she joins them at the table. ‘After our parents had joined the Dark Mother, we had to look after our little brother. We found it difficult, more than we imagined, look after little Reg. He didn't fit in with school; he had an awful time. He had a special gift of magic. He could make spells no one else could. People were afraid of him, after all, who wants to turn into a slug, rat or toad. Nina is confused but sits intensively listening.
‘He didn't like going to school, and until we witnessed the bullying, we didn't realise what he went through. Turning up at school one day, he sat alone on the wall at the edge of the playground. We looked towards the schoolhouse and there before our eyes were a hundred slugs, rats and toads. His mixed feelings, short temper and the fact he was different was a bad remedy to be with normal folk. We could never be angry at him, the sparkle in his eyes and the innocence on his face would fool the darkness itself.'
‘We never went back, and neighbours moved away leaving us to Echo Beach. Come to think of it they could still be slugs, rats and toads there now! We should have turned them back, really.' Father grimaces. ‘But he told us what the teachers and students were like with him. They would lock him in the cupboard; then he would be punished by the teacher, shouting he was rotten inside. The teacher would encourage the class to make fun of him, until one day he had had enough. The shadows whispered to him, telling him the Dark Mother is with him.