“I heard them screaming,” she sobbed. “In my head. In the ether. They called me back here. They're in so much pain...”
“I know. I'm sorry.” Ruby looked at Malcolm uneasily, as he crouched down and put his arms around Bethany, as carefully as if she were made of glass.
“You can help them, though, right, Rube?” he asked. “You can set 'em free?”
“No. I... I'm afraid I can't.”
Bethany's head spun round to look at her, eyes burning. “Can't... or won't?”
“Can't.” Ruby's voice was grim. “The level of magic needed to effect such a transformation is far beyond my humble abilities. Your Mother and your Aunt got caught in the crossfire between an angel and a demon. It would take an entity of similar powers to reverse the spell...”
Bethany's eyes continued to bore into her, angry and desperate. “But I'm guessing you wouldn't help, even if you could. Our families aren't exactly friends.”
At this, Malcolm tried to interject: “Oh, come on Beth, that's unfair - “
But Ruby could not meet her gaze. She had no words of reassurance to offer.
“I'm sorry,” she said, again.
Bethany gave a snort of something approximating laughter. “Sorry butters no parsnips. If you're not going to help me, leave me be.”
“Beth - “
But Bethany shrugged Malcolm away.
“GO! Both of you! Get thee gone! Get the hell away from me and mine!”
Malcolm sat on the ground beside her a moment longer, conflicting emotions playing across his face.
“Whatever you want, Beth,” he said, finally. “If you want to be alone, I'll go. But I'll always be there if you need - “
“I won't tell you again.” Bethany's voice was brittle, like cracking ice. “Go. And take the old witch with you. I have grieving to do.”
“Beth...” Malcolm hesitated still, even as he heaved himself to his feet.
Bethany would not even look at him.
He looked over at Ruby, hopefully. But Ruby merely shrugged, shook her head sadly, and then started back up the hill towards her caravan.
Malcolm gave one last stricken, helpless glance at the girl he loved, then reluctantly drifted away after the the elderly witch.
Bethany did not even look up as he left. She continued to kneel on the ground, her head bowed. She was muttering to herself, and digging the fingers of both hands deep into the soft earth beneath her.
After a few minutes, the Summer sky turned iron grey, and the air grew bitterly cold.
And Bethany Devizes smiled to herself.
THE END
Warning!
Whether you believe in the power of magickal forces or not, this is NOT something to be toyed with, or taken lightly. You do so at your own risk.
Magick is based on the ‘un-provable’... Will power.
The tenet of all the beneficial witchcraft of the Widdowshins series is the same as that of Wicca (the right hand path): Positive Magick. Ruby always uses her magick for the purposes of ‘good’... ‘Do what you will, but harm none’. Remember. Anything bad that you wish for, or do to someone, will come back to you three times worse, (according to Wiccan tradition).
Magick (good or bad) is believed in by millions of people around the world and has most definitely not been consigned to the dustbin of history; it is very much alive and kicking, from the far reaches of China, and in the cities of Brazil and Russia, through to the towns and villages of Britain and the United States.
Simply put... If in any doubt, leave it alone. If you are interested in magick, there are many books available on the subjects of both white and black magic. But be warned, once the box is opened, the lid can never be fully shut again; and demons, like souls, are eternal.
You have been warned. It is your own responsibility for whatever actions you choose to do and the consequences that may come from them.
Although, the author strives for accuracy in all things, some items have been changed, mainly for the purposes of protection against any 'dabbling' that a reader might feel tempted to do.
For further tales and information visit the village at www.widdowshins.com
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Blessed Be!
Richard Ainsworth
The Dave Hinchy Code Page 15