The Salem Concord Book 1: Interview for a Wizard

by J. A. Areces

  Chapter 9

  The Three Witches

  The bell on the door alarmingly rang again. Jesse initially thought that the wizard forgot something and returned, but then he remembered that he couldn’t enter the store unless he was invited because of the Emunio Concutio. In fact, no witch or wizard could ever enter the store unless they were invited. The store must have a wizard exclusion spell, he thought. He looked up from the laptop. It was the three women he saw walk passed Beifar on his way out.

  “Oh what a darling store!” exclaimed the first woman. She was middle-aged, not too tall, wearing a long, light blue, flowing dress with plenty of trinkets that made a racket as she moved. In fact, they all wore gaudy charms that clattered and clamored with every movement they made.

  “Oh my, yes it is, Clara,” said the second woman who was short and chubby, dressed in different shades of purple. “I never thought it would be so cute. I’m going to buy me a new hat.”

  The loud squeal of delight from the third woman, dressed in shades of yellow, startled Jesse. She was taller than the first two, with her hair pulled up in a bun and decorated in shiny objects that twinkled underneath the store lights.

  “Look girls!” she shouted to the others and rushed to the middle of the store. “It’s beautiful!”

  The other two women followed, and together they stood around the crystal ball like cheerleaders during a football game.

  “Clara, let’s buy it,” insisted the woman in purple.

  “Yes! Yes!” shouted the woman in yellow as she clapped her hands uncontrollably.

  Jesse approached the strange and still very animated women, “Ladies, ladies that item is not for sale.”

  All at once the three customers went silent. They turned, obviously disappointed at Jesse, and positioned themselves before the crystal ball as if they were claiming ownership. Jesse gulped.

  “BEEP”

  The sound of another order interrupted the silence.

  “We would like to purchase this outstanding item.” Clara told Jesse, grinning, but with a very stern voice.

  “Yes,” said the woman in yellow. “We would like to buy it now.” And she reached into a side pocket withdrawing a wand. Jesse recognized the wand from his store inventory, how ironic.

  “Now, now, Isabella,” Clara waved her down, “let’s not get excited.”

  Jesse stiffened - - witches?

  The third woman, dressed in shades of purple, reached into her purse. “I have some money.” She said. “How much does it cost?”

  Jesse recognized her. She owned a small, gift shop in town, just a few blocks away. It was a very queer looking shop with strange, garish items, along with very ornate jewelry. “I know you," he addressed the woman in purple. “I’ve gone by your store many times on my way to lunch.”

  “This and That?” she responded. “That’s our store. Have you gone inside?”

  “No,” answered Jesse feeling more relaxed once the conversation turned from the crystal ball. “I never had the time. I take short lunches.”

  “Come, come, now, Agatha,” interrupted Isabella, “let’s buy the crystal ball and leave. I don’t have all day.” She tapped her wand impatiently on her free open palm.

  “Are you witches?” asked Jesse as he drew closer.

  “We are all witches,” answered Clara. “And you’re not a wizard? How can a Folk own such a marvelous store?”

  Jesse did not answer.

  Then something crossed his mind. “How were you able to enter the store, it has an exclusion spell or a wizard or witch alarm or whatever you call it?”

  The three witches looked at each other nervously. “Emunio Concutio?” they responded in unison.

  Then Isabella replied smirking, “Your website invited us. It states to come in and visit us anytime.” The others exhaled in relief.

  “You are a very interesting Folk.” Spoke Clara. “You own a wonderful wizard and witch store, and you have an Emunio Concutio, and yet you are a Folk.” She squinted slightly, “Who are you, really?”

  Jesse thought for a moment, feeling extremely suspicious of his three guests. With everything that was happening, why wouldn’t he be suspicious of them? Did witches inhabit the entire town of Mount Dora?

  Who are you, really? Jesse repeated the question in his mind and decided it was none of their business, and so he didn’t answer.

  “I’m sorry, ladies, but the crystal ball is not for sale.”

  Isabella stopped tapping her wand.

  “You can buy any other item in the store, but not that one, it’s not for sale”

  Isabella pointed her wand at Jesse. “Are you sure?”

  “And he’s such a nice young man,” stated Agatha.

  Jesse took a step back. “You know, I am the owner of Alivan’s Wizards and Witches Corner Store.” He took another slow step back. His voice quivered as he spoke. “And I can just as easily un-invite you.” He drew away even further.

  Clara raised her eyebrows.

  Isabella frowned.

  Agatha shook her head, and closed her purse.

  Jesse smiled. He held the upper hand. The tide turned in his favor. The bluff worked.

  Isabella returned her wand into her pocket, and began to walk toward the front door. Then Clara followed and finally Agatha. Jesse watched them walk pass him.

  “I will have that crystal ball,” said Clara.

  The bell sounded, and they were gone.

  Jesse stood in the same spot for a few moments as he caught his breath, then turned and faced the crystal ball. It was beautiful.

  “What is going on here?” he whispered to himself.

  Jesse spent the rest of the day just as Beifar suggested, working as usual. The store became very busy once the local schools were out for the day. Kids and parents kept coming in and out of Alivan’s Wizards and Witches Corner Store to buy or pick up items for Halloween. The annual Halloween festival was always a fun event that most of the town looked forward to. Jesse was realizing that this event alone could cover most of the store’s yearly overhead.

  UPS was now coming three times a day to pick up deliveries. Business was awesome. The store’s website was also providing the store with very nice revenue. Jesse was filling orders from all across the nation. He never dreamed that the wizard and witch business was so profitable.

  However, as busy as it was, Jesse found that he kept thinking about “the Exercises”. Jesse’s obsession even took preference over Cindy. He used to spend the day thinking of Cindy, now he spent it wondering if he could perform magic. It wasn’t something he was willing to admit but he found himself going back into the storage room to practice the Exercises. He would stretch out his left hand and concentrate on feeling his fingers without touching them. And when his left hand was tired from the straining and tightening of his muscles, he switched to his right. It never worked. He’d finally return to his desk frustrated and mentally exhausted, but determined to try again later.

  Before Jesse knew it, it was quitting time. The streetlights were slowly turning on, and the movie sign from the theater across the street was lit. The movie theater was running a scary movie marathon, and each night till Halloween, they played a different horror movie. Jesse closed the blinds to the shop as he read the first movie, Nightmare on Elm Street. Wonderful, he thought to himself, as if I’m not surrounded by enough scary stuff already. Jesse picked up the store before he left for the night. It took quite a while to sweep up all the different colored dust left behind by Ana the witch. He then checked the inventory. That’s when he realized that no boxes were received today. No new merchandise entered the store. He found that odd. Just to make sure, he went to the steps and looked up. No boxes. Inventory in the store was low, and a list of needed items was sent to Mr. Claw. Come to think of it, he hadn’t received any emails from Mr. Claw today either.

  That’s when he noticed it. D
eep within the shiny orb, a faint cloud circled inside the crystal ball. Jesse slowly moved towards it and, standing just inches away, gazed inside. Something was moving inside the crystal ball. It was shapeless at first, but then it began to curl and coil. It took a round shape. Then from the edges sprang out seven shapes, sharp shapes that curved into deformed serpent-like heads with long bodies. They were dragonheads. Then he heard, coming from within the crystal ball, a whisper, “Raven Fidgewidge”. Jesse pressed against the glass, with his hands up against the sides of his face, to get a closer look, and with that, it was gone. The crystal ball returned back to its normal, dormant state.

  Jesse stepped back, bewildered. What next? Was there no end to the extraordinary events that were taking place since he met the wizard Beifar? This was more than just a crystal ball, this orb was bewitched. Everything was bewitched! Alivan’s Wizards and Witches Corner Store was a hub for witches. Jesse paused…Raven Fidgewidge? Jesse thought he recognized the voice, but he couldn’t place it. It could be anyone, someone from town, or even a customer or…Lord Alex. Jesse thought it was the voice of Lord Alex. He wouldn’t bet on it. He only spoke to Lord Alex a few times to confirm a delivery address or something trifle like that. Was Lord Alex also a wizard? Jesse instantly took his cell phone and called the wizard but he got his voice mail.

  Just then Jesse remembered the broken answering machine. He forgot that he needed to buy a new one. Jesse grabbed his helmet, turned off all the lights, flipped the sign, and locked the door behind him. Alivan’s Wizards and Witches Corner Store was closed for the night.

  He jumped on his bike, clipped on his helmet, turned the key, and revved the engine a few times before driving out of the alley and turning down the street.

  On his way home Jesse pulled over in front of the local Radio Shack store. It was only a few blocks away, and an easy stop. Jesse jumped off his bike and strolled inside. It was decorated for Halloween with simple Halloween items. Noisy ghosts and goblins hung from the door to welcome guests, dancing spirits, lit pumpkins and mechanical tombstones rocked and rolled from side to side. Jesse decided never to sell those types of products at Alivan’s Wizards and Witches Corner Store. In his opinion they were cheesy Halloween merchandise, not the kind of look he wanted for his store. Jesse waved hello to a tall, skinny employee behind the desk, and grabbed the first answering machine box he found on sale. Once at the cash register, he pulled out his wallet ready to pay.

  “You busted another one?” asked the clerk. “You’re such a loser,” he said jokingly.

  Jesse laughed. “Yeah Rob, not everyone is a genius like you. I’m gonna have to start working overtime to pay for all of the ones I’ve busted. Maybe I can get a job here working nights.”

  The cash register rang up the amount, and Jesse handed Rob the money.

  “So have you seen any ghosts?” asked Rob.

  Jesse gave a slight curiosity tilt of his head and repeated, “Seen any ghosts?”

  “Yeah, my sister’s best friend’s cousin’s boyfriend’s grandmother lives behind the movie theater,” Rob took a deep breath. “And she said that the store you work at is haunted.”

  Jesse raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

  Rob lowered his voice and leaned over the counter toward Jesse, “She said that last night she saw bright, green lights coming from the windows of the second floor, really creepy lights.” Rob gulped.

  Jesse gulped. He was there last night -- all night and he never saw any lights, unless it occurred while he experienced the nightmare.

  “She said that she was almost scared to death and couldn’t sleep at all because she would have terrible nightmares. She heard a voice telling her to go into the store and look for the crystal ball, but she was too scared to go.” Rob straightened up. “Alivan’s Wizards and Witches Corner Store is haunted.”

  Jesse remained quiet. Here was someone else who was having scary nightmares, and hearing voices. He took his box and headed towards the door. I haven’t heard any voices, he thought.

  “If you ask me,” continued Rob. “Folk around here aren’t going to like hearing about this. News travels fast in this town. Before you know it the cops will show up asking questions and poking around. They’ll watch you. They’ll watch your every move -- who you talk to, where you go and what you do. I’d quit if I were you.”

  “Thanks Rob, I really needed to hear that.”

  “I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to scare you or anything like that…” Rob apologized.

  “I know,” Jesse drew closer, “it’s just that I’ve been having nightmares lately, so I’m kind of sensitive to nightmare stories right now. Maybe I should go speak to that woman and find out what she’s experiencing?”

  “You can go right now.” Rob reached behind the counter and retrieved a small bag. “I was going to deliver this order to her before I went home. It’s out of my way, but not for you. Do you mind?”

  Jesse didn’t hesitate and took the bag, peeking inside to find six AA batteries. He glanced up at Rob curiously.

  Rob quickly scribbled the address on a sticky paper and handed it to Jesse.

  “Don’t be surprised if she’s quick with you.” Rob added. “She doesn’t take kindly to anyone ever since her husband passed away.”

  “Passed away?”

  “Yep, he was one of the victims that died at the bus stop outside your store.”

  Jesse felt his stomach turn unexpectedly. He didn’t say another word. He wasn’t sure if he was shocked, scared or just dumbfounded.

  Jesse returned to his bike, placed the package in the bike storage compartment under the seat, clipped on his helmet and drove off.