Body Bags & Blarney

by Shaw, J. D.

  “They think we’re dead now?” Vivienne asked.

  “Absolutely.” Octavia replied. “Surrounded inside this magical little cocoon, the Devas placed you all in a sort of hibernation until the Elder Council could analyze the ritual and send you back to banish them for good.”

  “How am I supposed to do that?” Vivienne asked.

  “I’m glad you asked.” Miss Octavia smiled. “They need to complete the ritual under the full moon tonight and you’re going to stop them cold with this.” She reached down onto the coffee table and handed a thin tree branch to her.

  “A branch?” She took it in her hand and examined it. “Is it magic?”

  “Not yet.” Octavia replied. “I’m going to help you craft your first wand and you’re going to use that to stop them.”

  “I don’t understand what I’m supposed to do with it.”

  Octavia clucked her tongue. “You really are behind in your magical studies.”

  “That and I think I really need some coffee to start to deal with this.” Vivienne joked.

  “A wand is the most powerful tool in a witch’s arsenal. With it, you will begin to access magical energy that is beyond your wildest dreams.” Octavia slowly pulled herself up from the sofa. “It’s time to take the step to the next level, Vivienne Finch.”

  Vivienne snapped her fingers. “I know the first thing I need to do now.”

  “Yeah?”

  “A hot shower followed by copious amounts of coffee.”

  “By all means.” Octavia gestured to the bedroom door where the cats scratched and meowed in protest. “The bathroom is through there.”

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  By ten in the morning, Vivienne was starting to feel like a human again. She had taken a hot shower, had a deliciously fluffy omelet with whole wheat toast, and most importantly had a chance to call Joshua from the apartment’s landline and check in.

  As she expected, Nana Mary was taking excellent care of the gentlemen in her small apartment inside the Whisperings Oaks Assisted Living Facility. But, there was the rather large matter of Joshua, Hunter, and herself having gone missing for almost the entire week that concerned her the most.

  Lucky for her, Miss Octavia had done an excellent job explaining the missing chunk of time that they had been isolated from in great detail. The sorcerer and Elemental had collaborated together to cast a suggestion spell that made everyone in town believe that she, Joshua, and Hunter had gone away for various reasons. Thanks to the abundance of portal energy around Cayuga Cove, the simple spell spread like a virus in record time and it kept the local population from disrupting their work by alerting any authorities to the fact that they were missing. They only needed the ruse to work until Sunday evening when they would unleash the dark magic that would consume everyone who mattered.

  When Miss Octavia had returned from the Elder Council on Tuesday morning, she soon discovered the spell-induced selective amnesia through her interactions with the townsfolk. The evil duo had crafted quite a believable backstory as to where each of them was thought to be. She had overheard Nora Finch excitedly talking to Clara in the diner about how wonderful a time Vivienne was having while relaxing on a beach down in Miami with Joshua for a spontaneous romantic getaway. She mentioned she had a strong feeling that her daughter would be returning with a new ring on her finger as a souvenir. Octavia carefully let herself into Vivienne’s home and brought the cats back to her place, getting a few scratches for her trouble. She left a note for Nora not to worry, as she had arranged for a good friend to care for them until she returned.

  On Wednesday, Octavia had a bad feeling that the coming Nor’easter predicted to strike Cayuga Cove on Sunday by the weather service was the doing of the sorcerer and his Elemental master. A general sense of unease began to filter through the town as people started to stock up on supplies should the predictions for a direct hit prove to be true. Two feet of snow was the possible total called for, but she had a feeling that the figure was going to go higher before the weekend hit. While waiting in line at the Monarch Grocery, she had overheard Kathy Saunders gossiping to the cashier about how Hunter Arkins had returned to his hometown in Indian Lake to gather his possessions and return to town as a permanent resident. Later that evening as she washed her dishes from the slow cooker roast she had enjoyed for dinner, she watched the meteorologist on the local newscast display fancy color-coded graphics showing his forecasting data. This storm was unlike anything seen in a hundred years, he stressed. It was massive and its formation seemed to take everyone by surprise.

  Thursday afternoon, the weather service was now calling for snowfall amounts at three to four feet and indications for a direct hit seemed more and more likely. The bright sunshine and almost forty degree temperatures gave a false sense to some people that the storm wasn’t going to be that bad. As Octavia stood in line to cash a check that afternoon inside Colonial Bank, she overheard Eunice Kilpatrick telling a customer that Alexis Warner remained in a coma at Cayuga Memorial Hospital. Sheriff Rigsbee maintained hope that upon regaining consciousness, she could explain the bizarre suicide that claimed the life of the young man known as Johnny Guido. Of course, Eunice was quick to point out that her brother, Pastor Kilpatrick, was spending every waking moment in her hospital room praying for a speedy recovery for the poor girl. Octavia, however, knew better. She had no doubt that the Elemental masquerading as Seamus Kilpatrick was making sure she remained unresponsive to treatment. Later that evening during the six-o-clock news, an announcement was made that the Luck of the Irish Carnival was to be shortened to Saturday only, as Sunday was looking too dangerous with a blizzard nipping at their heels. All of the residents and vendors agreed that Mayor Pembroke had made the right call to ensure that public safety was the top priority.

  Friday proved quite busy as the vendors and local merchants prepared Main Street for the festivities. All of the lamp posts were wrapped with strands of green and white ribbons which transformed the dull winter surroundings into a spring-colored bonanza. Shop windows were bedecked with shamrocks and leprechauns, food trucks rolled into parking spaces offering such delicious fare as hot bowls piled high with corned beef and cabbage and double-decker Rueben sandwiches. Eager to earn extra money given the shortened duration, many of them opened early on Friday night much to the delight of the local residents.

  The Luck of the Irish Carnival was in full swing on Saturday despite the winter storm warnings that were blasted over the television and radio stations. Local residents enjoyed the day that was filled with boisterous, yet controlled merriment. There had been no protest from the Shoreline Baptist Church members. Much to the surprise of everyone, Seamus Kilpatrick had kept a low profile. As the end of the festivities drew near, Mayor Pembroke and Father Daniel O’Reilly asked everyone to observe a moment of silence in honor of Father William. At the bandstand in the center of town, the local musicians that had been entertaining the crowd with toe-tapping Irish songs ended the night with the song ‘Fields of Gold.’ Local vocalist, Melissa McKay, joined them and her soft soprano voice moved many residents to tears as they raised glasses in honor of not only Father William, but all of their loved ones who had passed away.

  As she prepared for bed that evening, Octavia found the tiny roll of golden paper, no larger than an inch in width, resting on her pillow. She instantly recognized it as a flash scroll, a top secret message that materialized when the Elder Council needed to make emergency contact. Thanks to the size, the tiniest bubble of magical energy was used which helped to conceal it from those who were tracking such phenomena. She unrolled it carefully and the words floated at eye level for her to read. ‘Returning the three before the rooster crows. Two beneath the trees with the crone now aware. One to the Mother who never wanders, guided by destiny.’ The scroll popped like a soap bubble blown by a child, disappearing before her eyes. It was coded for safety but she knew exactly what it meant. Joshua and Hunter were going to be sent to Nana Mary’s. She had been under the infl
uence of the suggestion spell like everyone else, but the scroll would awaken her mind and she would know what to do when the two men appeared out of thin air. Vivienne was coming to Mother Earth Mercantile where she was to craft her wand and use it to banish the sorcerer and Elemental before it was too late. With no time to lose, Octavia made up the spare bedroom in her apartment above her shop and would await her guest’s arrival sometime before dawn.

  As Vivienne finished her phone call with Joshua, she felt strangely alone. They had been hidden for their safety but she was going to be truly on her own tonight. With the full moon, both Joshua and Hunter would assume their natural wolf form and be unable to assist her. She couldn’t afford to waste any time worrying about things she couldn’t control.

  She spent the afternoon working upstairs with Octavia, crafting the wand out of the simple branch. They stripped the bark, sanded and lacquered the bare wood, and placed three power gems and stones in key locations to assist with the casting of more advanced spells. Under Octavia’s guidance, she had chosen a stunning purple amethyst for the base area where the magic flowed directly from her hand, as it helped to transform negative energy into something positive. At the center of the wand where the energy was forged into the desired spell, she had chosen a yellow piece of fluorite. Well known for the power to enhance focus and concentration, it would ensure she spoke the required spell incantations properly. At the tip of the wand where the energy was released, she had placed a reddish-orange carnelian. This was an action stone that accelerated the spell into quick action.

  As the hours passed, the wind and snow were almost too incredible to believe. Much to the astonishment of the meteorologists, an estimated six inches an hour was falling from the sky. The full blast of the Nor’easter had settled on Cayuga Cove around noon and was predicted to continue at least until midnight. Due to the incredibly harsh conditions, the plows and salt trucks were barely able to keep up. Main roads were cleared as often as possible, but it was a losing battle. The pavement was quickly hidden and the side roads were never even touched. By five in the afternoon, small hedges and shrubbery were buried under a blanket of heavy white and the wind had picked up sharply, causing a few random blackouts throughout the town as tree branches snapped and took down utility lines.

  “Can I ask you something?” Vivienne set her finished wand down on the kitchen counter to dry.

  “Anything.” Octavia replied.

  “Do you think my magic will be enough to stop them?”

  Octavia turned the question around. “What do you think?”

  “I know that the magic has returned inside my body.”

  “Spending almost a week inside one of the magic portals took care of that quite nicely.” Octavia remarked. “You’re turbocharged, honey.”

  “What am I supposed to cast when I face them tonight? Without my grimoire, I don’t have access to my spells.”

  “The Elder Council is preparing a spell specifically to eradicate the ritual safely. They have the most experienced witches in the world working on a way to undo the magic without triggering a backlash.”

  “Backlash?”

  “You don’t want to really know the specifics.” Octavia glanced warily at her. “But let’s just say that if such an event happened, there would be no more Finger Lakes area in Upstate New York. There would be just the ragged edges of an enormous crater where everything once was.”

  “You’re right. I don’t want to know the specifics.”

  “The group is informally known at the ‘bomb squad,’ as they have managed to avoid magical catastrophes with a near-perfect record.” Octavia beamed with pride. “The odds are in your favor.”

  “You said near-perfect.” Vivienne gulped. “Dare I ask what happened the few times they couldn’t fix the problem?”

  “You end up with a major world-shattering event, like the Black Death in the middle ages.” Octavia said grimly. “Like I said, this sort of thing doesn’t just contain itself to the magic community.”

  “How are they getting this spell to me?”

  “You’re going to have to improvise until a flash scroll appears.” Octavia said as the power flickered in the apartment. “When it arrives, your wand will be drawn to the raw source of magic. Let it guide you to where the scroll awaits, but be sure you do it fast.”

  “The Elemental and sorcerer will feel it too, won’t they?”

  “Absolutely.” Octavia confirmed.

  “They’re going to cast the last part of the ritual outdoors. It has to do with the element of air.” Vivienne wondered aloud. “That could be anywhere.”

  “Well, listen to that wind out there. It’s something truly wicked, but it’s always worse along the lake. The winds just seem to have more gusto there.” Octavia gave her a little smile.

  “The park by the lake?” Vivienne asked.

  “That’s where I’d go to finish the ritual. Out near the open water, where the air was free to pass through with no resistance from trees or buildings. It’s very isolated too, less chance of someone stumbling along while you’re casting difficult incantations.”

  “Thank you.” Vivienne walked over and gave her a hug. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

  “You’d have figured that out. Have a little faith in yourself and your abilities.”

  Vivienne stepped over to the apartment windows where Tommy and Sammy batted at the snowflakes that danced across the glass. She gave them each a pat on the head and looked out at the town below. It was ever-so-quiet. The roads, now erased under almost two feet of snow, had no tire marks. Mailboxes seemed like they were mounted on mini stumps instead of posts. Front doors, normally accessed by a set of concrete stairs, now looked level with the ground. Lights flickered from homes where the residents were safely holed up with mugs of hot chocolate, fireplaces blazing with wood-fueled warmth, and cozy blankets to add to the top of warm beds. This was her home. This was the future that she envisioned with Joshua by her side. It was worth fighting for.

  “Whenever you’re ready to charge your wand, let me know.” Octavia spoke softly as she walked behind Vivienne to observe the storm raging outside.

  “Let’s do this.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Unwilling to risk the lives of Octavia and her beloved cats, Vivienne had packed the small altar table and the supplies needed to bless the wand and bring it up to full charge into a backpack. As she bundled herself up and prepared for the biggest battle of her life, she couldn’t help but think of Joshua and Hunter waiting for the moon to rise. According to the information on the shop’s astrological wall calendar, it was to happen precisely at seven-thirty. With only an hour to spare before that happened, she called Nana Mary’s apartment from the store’s landline.

  She first thanked Nana Mary for helping protect Joshua and Hunter. Had it not been for her lessons in magic, her gentle hand to guide her through the process of learning what it truly mean to be a practicing witch, she was certain that she would no longer be amongst the living. But most importantly, she told her how much she loved her.

  “I feel that every day, darling granddaughter.” Nana Mary had replied. “But it’s always nice to hear.”

  When Joshua came on the line she fought back tears. “I miss you.”

  “I miss you too, Sweetheart.” Joshua spoke softly. “If there was something I could do to help, you know I would.”

  “I know that all ready.” Vivienne replied. “But it’s always nice to hear.” She parroted Nana Mary.

  “Moonrise is coming up soon. Hunter and I are getting ready to head out into the woods.”

  “Be careful.” Vivienne cautioned.

  “Please tell me that the Elder Council gave you a plan to fix this.”

  Vivienne paused for a moment. “Of course they did. It’s a pretty good one too.” She lied.

  “I’m glad.” Relief flooded Joshua’s voice.

  “You know what the worse part of all this is?” She asked him.

&nbs
p; “What’s that?”

  “Are you near a window?”

  “Yes.” He answered.

  “Go over and look out at the town. I mean, really look at it and tell me what you see?”

  Joshua was quiet for a moment as he did what she asked. “I see little homes where families are playing monopoly and adding up rummy scores.”

  “What else?”

  Joshua continued. “I see little children jumping up and down with joy because school will probably be cancelled for the next few days. In their minds they’re already designing snow forts and mapping out the best hills to rocket down on their plastic sleds.”

  Vivienne felt a tear run down her cheek. “I do too.”

  “I see a couple sitting on a cozy couch with a bowl of popcorn, extra butter and salt of course, watching a movie they’ve both seen a dozen times but never tire of because it was the first one the ever saw together.”

  “Anything else?” She barely could get the words out.

  “But mostly, I can’t help but see our future.” He finished. “A great big, wonderful, exciting future where we both keeping asking ourselves how it’s possible to keep finding new ways to fall in love as the years go by. I see a big house on the lake, with a pair of well-worn rocking chairs sitting on a wraparound porch. I see you and I watching our kids collect fireflies inside mason jars and you instructing them to whisper a wish and release them back into the air so they can speed their desires into the universe.”

  “I love you so much.” She swallowed hard.

  “To the moon and back.” He replied.

  “See you soon.” She battled to keep it together, vowing to use the feelings of love and devotion to combat the evil ritual about to be completed. She would channel her desire for a bright future into the magic as she blessed and powered her wand.

  “Bet on it.” He answered.