by Paul Simpson
Chapter 4
House of webs
Ffion approached the Witch Stones with George on lookout behind her. From the stones came Jodie, who stood before her.
“Mother, what can I do to completely unlock the other stones to get you free?”
Jodie moved closer to the edge as she gave her daughter a gentile smile.
“Long ago I found a way to keep myself here so that I could still be around for you when you needed me. I noted it all down in the spell book I made, the one you used to help defeat Jack. If you have kept it safe then you’ll find the answers in there.”
“Thank you mother, I’ll find the answers. You must hide again before that thing comes back, I love you.”
“I love you too, my precious daughter.” Jodie gave a loving touch and then faded away.
Ffion turned to George. “Where can I find my mother’s book? Looks like I’m going to be needing it."
George sat upright and held his paws up in the air, saying nothing.
“GEORGE, what are you doing?” She questioned.
“Look," he said. "I’m having a short PAWS! Get it?” Ffion smiled, to George’s delight, as he actually tried to remember where it had been put.
“Ooh! I remember, after you left we took it to Arnie’s house and left it under the back porch where we could keep an eye on it. There’s a loose section of bricks, just look for the scratched mortar marking them.”
Ffion picked up George and gave him a kiss on his head. “Thanks George, you stay here and keep guard. I'm off to get the book back.” Ffion jumped forward in to the air and changed into her black cat form in a swirl of magic, and raced off toward Arnie’s old house.
The village was a different place to that which she had left. Although the sun shone down and filled the grass and flowers with colour, it was still obvious that everyone had left this place after the hell Jack had let loose. The grass was overgrown and paint was beginning to blister and crack from the walls and doors of buildings. From a distance this place would easily be classed as picturesque, but close up it was a run-down empty husk where no one wanted to live anymore.
Just across the street was Arnie’s house, still standing proud. Ffion gave a smile as her memories flooded back of how George and she would go in and visit when the owners were away and spend all day playing, with Ffion using her power to throw a ball to fetch, or just simply lazing in the sunshine. But those days were gone and so was Arnie.
Squeezing through the fence and into the garden, Ffion began to check for the book’s hiding place. Halfway down the wall's length she found the loose area. With a fizz and crackle of power she changed into her human form again and using her power she removed the bricks to reveal the book of magic. Ffion flicked through the pages until she found what she was looking for, sitting on the cool garden grass in the warm sunshine, and began to read aloud extracts from her mother's book.
Note1
‘There is a strange house upon the hillside; its owner is called Jack. An outsider like me to the village, he seems to have a purpose for building the structure but it’s not for living in. I need to find out more.’
Note2
‘I've been keeping an eye on that mansion. Strangers to the village appear to enter the house but no-one seems to leave it. I get an odd feeling around the earth of the building as if I can feel a humming vibration coming from the ground. It’s odd to look over at what Jack has built. It beckons me toward it. I need to find out why.’
Note3
‘Caught Jack in the attic late one night while I was returning from a werewolf hunt. He was talking about lay lines and portals and had writings upon his hands. I wonder if he’s opening them? It would explain the strange lights late at night in the various rooms. I’ve read about lay lines before, back at school (or should I say forward in school? It’s hard to know what’s right when your birth is in the future). In the myths and fable stories I would read some say they increase a witch’s powers in close proximity. I’d never believe it but as I’m practically a witch now it would explain the sensations I experience when I draw close. My powers do seem to have grown since I arrived here but is that through development or living in this village? Do these portals need a power source to open? Is that why he built a house here around them?’
Note 4
‘Jack was away so I took my chance and entered the building. I found scraps of paper in one of the upstairs rooms. Upon them were scribbles of a pattern much like those seen on his hand previously. Having drawn on my hand with similar marks I channelled my energy into it. It took a few tries but I waved my hand around the room like a metal detector and I could feel a magnetic pull as if I were the dousing rod. When I found the right point there was a reaction in the air, one I haven’t seen since the facility incident that brought me here. A portal of blue sparks opened before me. After much debate with myself about the risk of what was on the other side, I went through to see where it would take me. As I passed through I found myself on the coastline upon a cliff. I seemed to have travelled miles in a matter of seconds.
It was easy enough to get back using the symbols again to locate the portal entrance. It brought me straight back to the room in the mansion. From the activity I’ve observed I would guess there are several doorways throughout this house but unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to discover more. I feel Jack and I will meet again someday and when we do, only one of us will come off the better. I have made a note of the symbol within these pages for reference. I will draw it upon my palm and focus power around it, then next is to search; the pull of the doorway will guide you to it. I’m sure there is an attic portal but the coast doorway was in the upper front bedroom, first floor.’
Note 5
‘I have since discovered another truth. It must have something to do with Jack. He seems to have found a way to cheat death, or at least return from it. The description from one of the documents I magically copied suggests that if an object belonging to that person, a token of sorts, can be used to channel their own magic however small, then the token can be used to anchor the soul to it. But it can also be used against them to capture their soul, even if they die or are killed. From what I am learning it would seem Jack thinks he might come upon one of these fates soon, and if that is the case, he’s created a back door escape plan for his soul to be brought back to this world. I wonder if the portals link to different areas and he is hiding his own anchors in the hope of his resurrection? The lay lines would give extra power to them, especially here at the center where they all meet.
The coven of the five witches who welcomed me here once have started to distance themselves recently. They compose little more than tricks, whereas my powers have vastly grown in comparison, but I wonder if that is reason enough to betray me? I now fear Jack’s plan might also be my own salvation if I am to watch over my family, should Jack's threats prove true. I have found the soul spell among the other writing I found I’ll make note of it within these pages.’