“Pity.” Fletcher gave me a wink.
Bob hopped onto my bed to look at the spell. “It would still be more effective in the moonlight outside, Mistress.”
I looked at the clock; it was only a quarter past seven. We had over two hours until my family got back, but maybe it would be better to do it somewhere else.
“How about The Seven Sisters?” Bob suggested, “It’s a natural power-centre; it would increase the power of whatever magic you were doing, and you wouldn’t need to cast a circle with candles, you could use the natural circle instead.”
The Seven Sisters was a circle of seven trees at the far edge of the town Common. It was only a short walk from our house but far enough away from everything so as to offer privacy, and the trees looked quite impressive, standing as they did on an otherwise completely open space. It was also the spot where I had successfully reversed my Revive spell.
This idea appealed to me; surely with all that natural energy I should be able to get the spell to work? I hadn’t said so to Bob or Fletcher, but in truth I was worried that nothing would actually happen at all and I would end up looking like a big old useless fake.
Chapter Five
“Let’s do it at The Seven Sisters then,” I agreed. “We need some supplies. A black candle, the incense and a bottle of water. Earth will already be there.” I began to put the things into a backpack as I named them. “My Athame, a mirror, anything else?” I looked at Bob.
“Matches,” he suggested.
I nodded, “Right. That’s it, I think. We can go.” I took my long black cloak off the back of my bedroom door and put it on. It was a bit whimsical to wear it, but I somehow felt more powerful with it on, more like a real witch and less like a schoolgirl.
The cloak had been a gift from my father, and was velvet with a hood. It would help keep me warm, if nothing else, against the cold of the exposed town Common.
Fletcher took the backpack off me, and I smiled at the gentlemanly gesture. His green eyes made my heart flutter again.
I really hoped I could help him. My powers were apparently tied to my emotions, so if I wanted it then it was more likely to work. I had to remember that.
We walked mainly in silence. I was going over the spell in my head and trying to tap into my witch energy. I figured that Fletcher was concerned about how successful it would be.
We went down the hill to the bottom of my street and then cut between two houses onto the town Common. It was really nothing more than a big open space, bordered on the far side by woods that stretched away into the distance. But as we left the lights of the houses behind us, I felt we could be the only people on earth.
I could hear only the wind, and our breathing, and the stars and the moon seemed brighter above us. Once again I had to resist a strong urge to take Fletcher’s hand.
We reached The Seven Sisters, and entered the natural clearing. I looked around, remembering the last time I was here.
Fletcher was looking up at the moon.
“Do you feel anything in particular?” I asked, gesturing at it.
“Yes,” his voice was almost a whisper, “I feel her calling the wolf.”
This time I didn’t resist; I took his hand and squeezed it.
I had only meant to reassure him, but the electricity was like a warm shiver going through my body.
Fletcher obviously felt it too. He pulled me close and took my other hand. His eyes fixed on mine and I was mesmerised by them. I couldn’t think clearly, then he kissed me…
It was so hot that I swear sparks flew from my fingertips. The world spun on its axis and my knees buckled from trying to stay upright as the ground dipped away from me.
“Mistress!” Bob’s squawk pulled me back to earth. “Fire!!”
I pushed away from Fletcher, and looked round, only to see that my backpack was on fire! The sparks I had imagined, between Fletcher and myself, had been real.
I rushed over and whacked the backpack on the ground a few times until the small flame went out.
“That was… unexpected.” Fletcher said.
I rounded on him angrily. “You kissed me,” I said accusingly. “I already told you, I’m seeing someone.”
“Sorry.” He shrugged noncommittally and I wanted to hit him. “Uh, do you usually set things on fire when someone kisses you?” he asked.
“No, this is the first time,” I admitted.
He grinned.
I swatted at his arm, “Look what you did to my backpack.” There was a large charred hole in the material.
“What you did, you mean.” He was still looking extremely pleased with himself.
“It’s not funny, Fletcher.”
“No, imagine what damage you would do if we did more than kiss,” he teased.
“Yeah, well, that’s not going to happen,” I said, trying to dampen his glee. “And if it did, then I’d aim for your privates next time.” I gave him an evil smile but he still didn’t stop grinning.
I had to get my head together if I was going to pull off any magic, but actually I wanted to throw myself back at him and experience the roller-coaster kiss again.
Sean. I like Sean. Not weird werewolf boy who doesn’t even live near here. I said silently to myself, trying to conjure up Sean’s gorgeous smile in my mind.
I came up with nothing.
I sighed, “Just help me get set up, we haven’t got all night.”
“Oh, I have,” he said innocently. But he took the supplies I held out to him.
“Stand in the middle while I cast a circle,” I instructed.
“Bob? Which way is East?” Bob flew down to my shoulder, and used his wing to point.
I lit the incense and walked a full circle, holding it to cleanse the space, then pushed it into the earth when I reached the easternmost point of the circle.
“I call upon the Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, I offer you Air to guard and bless this circle,” I intoned. I turned to my right and walked a few paces, then set down the candle and lit it.
“I call upon the Guardian of the Watchtower of the South and offer you Fire to guard and bless this circle.” I repeated the same at the west point, tipping the bottle of water onto the roots of the nearest tree, and spoke again at the northernmost point, where I dug in the ground with my fingers to offer Earth.
With the circle now cast, I turned to Fletcher. “I’m going to read the spell now; whatever you do, don’t break the circle until it’s finished or we could have some disastrous results!” I shuddered, speaking from experience.
I picked up my wand and my Grimoire and stood facing him.
I read the spell carefully in silence and tweaked the wording in my mind, then read it out loud:
“Guardians of the North, West, South and East,
Separate this man from beast,
Banish the wolf that resides within he,
This is my will, so mote it be!”
A slight wind picked up and all the leaves on the ground inside the circle picked up and blew about a little.
“It’s working!” I said in an awed voice.
“Help me, Bob.” I gave the top of his head a quick stroke, grateful for his presence. He closed his eyes and leaned into me. I felt our connection strengthen and his energy adding to my power.
I read the spell a second time. The leaves started to blow around us in a circle. I began to get excited; I could feel the energy inside the circle and I was the centre of it. The trees were actually bouncing it round and around me. I lifted my face towards the moon to absorb her light and her power.
Wow, this is what it meant to be a witch!
I said the spell a third time.
As I got to the last line I raised my arms up to the moon, and bringing them down with a sweep I shouted “So mote it be!” pointing my wand at Fletcher.
There was an enormous bang and I was blinded by a bright light, that ricocheted round the circle, then knocked me clean off my feet.
I sat up dizzily, sha
king my head. My eyes adjusted to the darkness again and I saw Bob fluttering above me looking worried.
I quickly spotted Fletcher; he was lying on the ground in front of me, not moving. Beside him sat a wolf with dark brown fur and green eyes.
“Oh crap,” said the wolf in Fletcher’s voice.
Chapter Six
“Oh no.” I crawled over to Fletcher’s body. He had his eyes closed but he was breathing. I shook him. “Fletcher? Wake up, please.”
Nothing happened. I picked up his hand. Nothing, no tingle. I turned, stricken, to look at the wolf.
The wolf looked at me with accusing eyes. “Yeah, I’m over here.” He lifted one paw and waved it at me. “I’d say something went wrong, wouldn’t you, Emily?”
“Blast, blast, blast!” I said tearfully.
“Yup, one almighty blast,” agreed Fletcher, “and now I’m a wolf. So who’s in there?” He nodded at his own body.
“Not you,” I said miserably, “I’m not getting any tingle.” I let his hand flop to the ground, and tentatively stretched my fingers out towards the wolf.
He trotted over to me and put his paw in my outstretched hand.
The tingle was instant.
“I think your total consciousness is in the wolf, sorry.” I said lamely.
Fletcher shrugged. “My fault, I made you do it; you weren’t to know it wouldn’t work.”
“That’s sweet of you” – I appreciated him not blaming me – “but what on earth are we going to do now?”
Fletcher sniffed at his own body. “We can’t really leave me here. I might get hypothermia,” he said practically.
I resisted the urge to put my head in my hands and burst into tears.
“That’s not what I meant. Shall I try to reverse it?”
I felt magically spent. The last time I had done a reversal spell I had drawn power from an entire Coven; but I couldn’t just leave him like that.
“Your body is getting cold already.” I picked up his hand again and began to rub it. “I’ve got to get help. I’m sorry, Fletcher, but I have to call for an ambulance. I don’t even know if your body will survive without you in it.”
Fletcher nosed his own hand. “Yeah, I agree.” He didn’t sound happy, but why would he?
I felt really scared suddenly. What if I’d killed him? What if I could never get his mind back into his body? And then the police might start asking me questions, and the whole witch thing would come out. I started to hyperventilate.
I took a few deep breaths, then I pulled out my phone and dialled 999.
“Hi, I’m at The Seven Sisters on the Common, and the boy I’m with has just gone unconscious. No, he’s breathing, I think he just passed out or something.” There was a short pause, then another voice and more questions. “Yes, my name is Emily Rand. No, he hasn’t taken any drugs.” I raised my eyebrows at Fletcher for confirmation of this and he shook his head firmly. “Okay, thank you.” I hung up and turned to Fletcher, “They’re on their way.”
Fletcher and I sat for a moment waiting and I began to shake slightly, both from cold and from fear.
Bob sensed my emotions and fluttered down, landing on the stomach of Fletcher’s body.
“Mistress. You must call your aunt. She will know what to do.”
I nodded. “She’s going to be so cross with me,” I moaned.
“I’ll find her and explain it all, shall I?” Bob offered.
“Thank you, Bob, you’re a sweetheart.” I patted him.
As I watched him fly away, I quickly grabbed my backpack and started to load the magical supplies into it. I absolutely couldn’t get caught practicing witchcraft; Iris had drummed that into me repeatedly. I whispered my thanks to the various guardians as I doused the incense, before kicking leaves over it.
I looked at my watch. It was just gone eight. I still had some time.
“Fletch,” I somehow felt more comfortable using his abbreviated name now he was a wolf, “I think you’d better hide; they will freak out if they see you.”
“They’re going to freak out anyway when they see my dead body.”
“You’re not dead.” I huffed. “But yeah, we are going to have to think of something, and quickly.”
“Humph, okay. Shall I wait for you in the woods?” A dense wood of beech and oak bordered the far side of the Common.
“Do you think you could sneak back to my garden?” I didn’t want to explain that I had no desire to spend the night wandering round the creepy woods on my own, and also that my dad would be expecting me back. I wasn’t allowed out past ten on a Saturday night, except on special occasions. Which was pretty embarrassing, seeing as I was sixteen, but he was kind of strict like that.
“Will you stay with my body? Go with them to the hospital and let me know what they say?”
I could hear the nerves in his voice, even though it was low and whispered.
“Of course,” I said softly.
“Thank you, Emily. I’m sorry I pushed you into all this.”
“I’m really sorry it didn’t work and it all went wrong.” I ran my hand over his head and stroked him behind one ear. His fur was so soft. I could feel the electric tingles stirring through it, raising it up where I touched him. I wondered if it would always be like that between us or if we would get used to it.
The noise of a siren made me snatch my hand back. Stroking him had been a bit too intimate for our current relationship, but it had seemed so natural.
“That was fast,” he said.
“Yes, I guess they thought you might be dying. I couldn’t tell them the truth, could I?”
“No. You’ll make sure they look after me?” He double-checked.
I nodded. “Of course,” I said again.
“Thanks, Emily. I’ll wait at your house.” He gave my hand a lick and then bounded away into the darkness.
The ambulance came screeching across the grass and two paramedics jumped out and ran into the clearing.
“Miss Rand? Can you tell us exactly what happened?”
“Uh,” I faltered, not totally sure what to say. I realised I would have to lie.
“We were hanging out and then suddenly he just collapsed. There was no warning really; he seems fine, just unconscious.”
“So he didn’t bang his head?”
“No.”
The paramedic looked around the clearing. “It’s a bit of an odd place just to ‘hang out’,” he said curiously. He saw my backpack with the burned hole clearly showing on the top. “Are you sure you weren’t doing any drugs? You need to be completely honest with us.”
“I promise, we took no drugs, that’s from the candle.” I indicated the candle, which was still burning next to Fletcher’s body and lighting the scene.
“Okay, I guess you thought it would be more romantic huh?”
“No, I…” I had been about to deny there was anything romantic between us; what if the story reached Sean? But then I realised it was really the only feasible explanation of what Fletcher and I were doing on our own in the middle of the Common at night. So I gave a sheepish smile and said, “Yeah, something like that.”
“You kids! Well, I can’t find any obvious signs of trauma, we’d better get him to the hospital asap. What’s his name?”
“Fletcher.” I said.
“First name or last?” The paramedic asked, writing it down.
I gawped at them. I’d never even thought of that. I looked into the darkness hopefully, but Fletcher didn’t put in an appearance.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know.” I said hopelessly. How embarrassing that they now thought I had been out here on the Common with a boy and I didn’t even know his real name.
“We’re going to need that information, Miss Rand. We will need to contact his family.”
Oh no! Fletcher was basically a runaway; he wouldn’t want his family to find him. Especially not like this. But it wasn’t my call to make, and surely his family should know that he was possibly hurt? I felt they s
hould know where he was anyway.
“I might be able to get his full name, I think I have the number of someone at home who knows.” I would make Fletcher tell me when I got back home. I wondered now if he had deliberately not told me his full name. Was Fletcher even his name?
“Okay, lets get him loaded into the ambulance. Would you accompany us please, Miss Rand? Then you can contact us again later with his full details. The important thing right now is to find out what’s wrong with him, but I’m pleased to say he doesn’t appear to be in any immediate danger; his breathing is regular and his pulse is strong.”
I nodded in relief and climbed into the ambulance. I got into the back on the seat next to where Fletcher was laid out. As we bumped over the grass I reached out and took his hand. I was very glad he would be safe in hospital. But I was worried that if I couldn’t provide his name then the hospital might involve the police to discover who he was. Of course, they would just contact the hostel he was staying at. But somehow I doubted that Fletcher had told them his real name either.
No one was looking at us, and I inched my hand towards his face. I stroked his cheek. Feeling bolder I trailed my fingers across his forehead and then into his hair. It was the same soft colour and texture it had been on his wolf.
I would never have dreamed of touching him like that if he had been conscious, but as he wasn’t there, I felt safe in doing so. It seemed wrong that there was no spark. I was incredibly tempted to lean down and try kissing him. If there were any Fletcher left inside his body at all, then surely that would spark a reaction? Or maybe I just really wanted to kiss him again! I turned away and looked out the back window of the ambulance instead; but I continued to clutch his hand all the way across town to the hospital.
Chapter Seven
It was only when we got there that I realised I wouldn’t be able to get home again. I looked at my watch in panic. It was only just gone eight-thirty; I still had an hour before my dad got home and I didn’t actually have to be in until ten at the latest, but it was still a major problem. Maybe I could call my dad and come up with some semblance of the truth, but what?
Werewolf Magic & Mayhem (Book Two, Magic & Mayhem Series) Page 3