“Thanks.”
Smiling, he leaned forward on his broom and then yelled, “Follow me!”
I willed my broom to follow him and soon, we were all racing toward Oregon, at a steady pace. Less than twenty minutes later, we slowed and began circling a large area of trees.
“We’re going to land!” yelled Tyler. “Follow Clarice and I’ll keep an eye on you!”
I swallowed hard. “Uh, and how do I do this?”
“Just do what you’ve been doing. Communicate telepathically with the broom. Make it aware that you want to land with us!” he replied, getting closer. “If you can slow it down, you certainly can land.”
“Okay.”
Follow Clarice and land, I closed my eyes and thought. Safely, I added.
In response, I felt an immediate tug on the broom. Gripping the stick tightly, I hung on as we raced after Clarice and Rebecca, who began to descend through a large group of cottonwood trees. Fortunately, I landed feet-first in a small, grassy field next to the other two witches, who were both smiling at me.
“You did very well, Kendra,” said Rebecca, getting off of her broom. She opened up her purse. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks,” I replied, watching as her broomstick vanished inside her purse.
“You can store yours inside of your backpack, since it’s now enchanted. It will shrink. Just don’t lose it,” said Rebecca. She turned to Tyler, who had just landed. “I’ll take yours.”
“Thanks,” he replied, handing it to her. “So, now where to?”
“We pass through those trees,” she replied, pointing north. “I believe that it will take us to the Devil’s Playground. Right Clarice?”
She nodded and then spoke quietly. “Yes. It shouldn’t be too hard to find. Just remember to stay together and,” she stared toward the trees pensively. “It’s a good idea to have your wands ready. In case we run into any trouble.”
“Uh, like as in Mark?” I asked, looking around. It was still fairly dark and there were trees all around us. Creepy, gnarly, old trees.
“Yes, or bears,” said Tyler.
“Or, worse,” said Rebecca. “Just keep your eyes peeled, everyone.”
Great.
I quickly opened up the backpack, removed my wand and then stared in surprise as the broom shot inside. Smiling, I zipped the bag back up and slung it around my back.
“Let’s go,” said Clarice, taking a step toward the trees.
“Wait,” said Rebecca. She opened up her purse again and removed a flashlight. “Here, Clarice. We don’t need you tripping over rocks or sticks.”
Clarice frowned. “Someone might see us.”
“Believe me,” said Rebecca, her eyes narrowing as she peered ahead of us into the darkness. “They already know we’re here.”
The hair stood up on the back of my neck. “Who does?”
“The coven in this area,” she replied. “They have spells that monitor their land.”
Great. “Uh, do you think they’re friend or foe?” I whispered. “Or, I guess what I should ask – what kind of witches are they?”
“It’s hard to say for sure,” replied Rebecca.
“I would think that anyone living in the Devil’s Playground would practice Black Magic,” said Clarice. “Although, that doesn’t necessarily make them evil.”
“Demons are evil,” I whispered.
“Yeah, but not all Black spells are created with the help of demons,” said Clarice. Her forehead wrinkled. “At least, I don’t think they are.”
“Whatever they practice, something tells me that the witches in this area are dangerous to anyone they don’t approve of,” whispered Tyler. “Including unannounced visitors.”
“He’s right,” said Rebecca, looking pretty tense herself. “That’s why we need to stay together. Now listen, if anything should happen, we’ll meet back at Secrets.”
“Okay,” I whispered, feeling the hair stand up on the back of my neck. The fact that she was already talking about escape wasn’t comforting. Plus, I felt like we were definitely under some kind of surveillance.
Tyler grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “We’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
I forced a smile and lied. “I’m not.”
“Come on,” said Clarice, walking forward with the flashlight. “Let’s go find ourselves a wand.”
Chapter Five
When we began making our way through the forest, the unsettling feeling of being watched increased and I wondered why nobody had suggested using the “Conceal” spell.
“If we use that spell, then the witches will take it that we’re trying to hide from them,” explained Rebecca.
“So?” I asked. “Wouldn’t we be much safer?”
“You’d think, but actually that wouldn’t be the case,” she replied. “Being invisible would really draw their attention. The coven leader would be powerful enough to sense the spell and know that we were here, trying to deceive them.”
“She’s right,” said Clarice. “Trying to hide ourselves means that we are being deceitful. We certainly don’t want to antagonize them in any way,” she replied. “We have enough enemies right now as it is.”
“I don’t care… I’m turning invisible if one of them shows up and tries attacking,” I muttered, looking around the woods nervously.
“I guess I wouldn’t blame you, after what happened last time,” replied Tyler.
“If any of them launch an attack, we’ll all become invisible,” said Clarice, glancing back at me over her shoulder as we trudged through the woods. “But for now, we must tread carefully and… honestly.”
I pushed a strand of hair behind my ears, realizing that I hadn’t run a brush through it in over twenty-four hours. Normally I didn’t care, but having Tyler around made me a little more self-conscious. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye and noticed that his short, dark hair was windblown, but it only made him cuter.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I replied quickly.
His lip curled up, but he didn’t say anything.
I looked away and stared ahead, wondering where this path was taking us. Everything seemed so dark and secluded. There was nothing but trees, rocks, and dark green thicket as far as the eye could see. I couldn’t even imagine anyone living so deep in the forest. Witches were obviously different, however. The ones I’d met recently could create a large castle in the middle of the Mohave Desert, and nobody would be of the wiser. I had to admit, though, it was really cool. Especially now that I was part of that kind of world. “So, um, do any of you actually know the coven in this area? You said you both grew up in Salem.”
“I used to, but it’s been many years,” replied Clarice.
“I haven’t been back to this area in ages, either,” said Rebecca. “We lived north of here. In a less secluded spot.”
“So, you really think these witches practice Black Magic?” I asked, looking up into the trees, half expecting to see some kind of demonic presence smiling down at me.
“I believe so, although I may be wrong,” said Clarice.
Rebecca frowned. “I don’t think you are. There is a cold darkness about these woods, Clarice. I’m sure you feel it too.”
“Yes,” she replied. “I do.”
An owl hooted right above me, and I jumped. “Do you think they’ll mind that we’re here?”
“Possibly,” said Clarice. “But then again, who knows? As long as we don’t disrupt anything, I imagine that we’ll be fine.”
“But you don’t know for sure,” I replied, my eyes darting everywhere now.
“We usually don’t associate with witches who practice the dark arts,” explained Tyler.
“Yes,” said Rebecca. “Obviously, there is a bit of a conflict of interest between us.”
Plus they use demons to help them with their dirty work, I wanted to scream. More than anything, that really freaked me out.
“I understand,” I replied, although I was also co
nfused as to how sisters could be raised together, but follow such different paths. Especially twins. I asked Clarice about it.
“We all have a calling,” she replied, pushing away a tree branch. “Deep inside of us. We are either drawn to one type of magic or the other.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Even if you’re raised exactly the same way and by the same parents?”
“Yes. Look at Adrianne and Vivian,” said Clarice. “They were twins and your grandmother loved them equally. But, something inside of Vivian was seduced by darkness.”
“A very evil darkness,” added Rebecca, lowering her voice. “One that grew as time went on.”
I shuddered. “Then, she wasn’t always as so cruel and hateful?”
“No she wasn’t,” replied Rebecca. “When we were young, Vivian was feisty and a little moody at times, but not the evil woman who tried killing her sister. I grew up around the both of them, and I know for a fact that there was a time when they would have done anything for each other.”
“So, what do you think happened?” I asked, saddened by the fact that they’d once been so close. I couldn’t imagine Kala trying to kill me, or vice-versa. Although we were very different in many ways, I knew that she loved me as much as I loved her, and there was no way we’d ever try harming each other. Not for anything. A sudden image of my father’s face popped into my head and it made me wonder. “Do you think it had to do with my father?”
“No, Kendra. Although your father was just another victim of Vivian’s craziness, I truly believe that her descent into darkness started around the time your grandmother was murdered,” replied Rebecca. “I think that something snapped inside of Vivian, and that she became vulnerable to…” She stopped.
“To what?” I asked.
“To evil spirits. In fact, I think that she may have even been possessed by one,” she replied softly.
I stopped dead in my tracks. “Seriously?”
“You’ve heard of people using Ouija boards, right?” asked Rebecca.
“Yes,” I replied. “Are you saying Vivian used one?”
“No, although she may have, I don’t really know. What I’m saying is that by practicing Black Magic, she opened herself up to darkness, making her vulnerable to evil,” said Rebecca. “Just like when someone experiments with a Ouija board. It’s very dangerous and nothing to mess around with.”
“And you think that she may have become possessed by a spirit or demon?” I asked. “Because of her choice in magic?”
“Maybe,” said Rebecca.
“Okay, so, anyone who practices Black Magic can be possessed?” I asked.
“I don’t know about that, but it certainly makes them more susceptible,” said Clarice. “It is important to remember that not all witches who practice Black Magic are out to harm everyone in their path.”
“Hmm,” I replied as we began walking again. “Then why would they want to join a coven that uses it?”
“Because some believe that the power is greater. Some also get steered that way. It’s hard to really say, I guess,” said Rebecca.
“What about sacrifices?” I asked, thinking about some of the movies I’d seen about witches. “Do they actually perform those?”
“Oh, I’m sure that happens,” replied Tyler.
“Yes, if they are truly evil and want to please their demon,” said Clarice.
I swallowed. “Uh, okay, let’s move away from that particular subject,” I said, scanning the darkness nervously. “It’s starting to really freak me out.”
“I agree,” said Clarice.
“I do have one more question – can a witch, who practices White Magic, turn dark?” I asked.
“Yes, of course. If a witch begins using spells for personal gain, it most certainly can make them cross over,” said Clarice.
“Into the dark side,” said Tyler in a very deep voice.
I chuckled. “Okay, Darth Vader.”
He breathed out loudly. “Join me and we will rule the galaxy.”
I shook my head and snickered. “Okay, enough.”
“Sorry,” he replied, smiling sheepishly. “I loved that series.”
“Yeah, it was pretty cool. But, we’re talking about real life here. So, Clarice, back to witches casting spells for personal gain – aren’t most of them performed for some kind of personal gain?” I countered. Even the spells that we’d used earlier were done to protect us from Vivian.
“Let me rephrase that. Personal gain that is sinister or harmful. Like trying to kill people or stealing things that don’t belong to you,” replied Clarice. “You practice that kind of magic and it corrupts you. Even if it starts out quite innocently.”
“What do you mean, ‘innocently’?” I asked.
“For example, if someone is teasing you at school,” replied Tyler. “And…”
“Like calling me fat?” I said dryly.
“Yeah but,” he scowled. “You’re definitely not fat.”
I shrugged. “I was before I used the potion, which reminds me – I used a potion to lose weight. To me, that would be a personal gain.” I laughed. “Which I guess is kind of ironic.”
“Actually, you have made a good point,” said Rebecca, turning back to me. “But, that’s a little different. Also, I want to point out that you were just fine before you took that potion. You didn’t need it.”
“I agree,” said Tyler, his eyes softening. “And anyone else that would have said otherwise, was a moron and not worth your attention, anyway.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
He smiled back. “Anyway, what my mom is trying to get at is that if you used even a simple spell to take your revenge out on a bully at school, it could lead to other things. Bad things.”
My eyes widened. “Like what?”
“It could make you more susceptible to demons,” said Tyler.
“Really?”
“Yes, and that’s why you need to be careful with magic. And don’t ever use it on anyone when you’re angry because of something that they did. Self-defense is one thing, revenge is another. The consequences could be very dire,” said Clarice.
“Okay,” I replied. “I guess that makes sense.”
Clarice turned back to me and smiled. “Now, believe it or not, I didn’t always have this svelte figure.”
“I love your figure,” said Tyler. “It’s huggable.”
She giggled. “Oh, Tyler, you’re such a sweet-talker.”
Rebecca laughed. “You sure have these two fooled.”
Tyler’s eyes widened innocently. “Why do you keep trying to throw me under the bus, mom? I am a sweet-talker.”
She snorted.
“Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes, when I was a young teenager, my love of food began to wreak havoc on my waistline.” Clarice sighed. “Even at that time I was addicted to food and just couldn’t stay away from the kitchen. Whether it was helping my mother cook, or just plain helping her get rid of the leftovers.” She chuckled. “I was always the first to volunteer. So, as you can imagine, I was rather portly in school.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Portly?”
“Thick in the waist, child,” she replied, patting her stomach.
I chuckled. “Oh, I can definitely relate to your story.”
She went on. “Anyway, I was also teased by many of the more popular girls at schools. Oh, how I wanted to use magic against them and there were many times that I looked through my mother’s spell book, to find a way to make them stop.”
“Did your mother practice Black Magic?” I asked.
“No, but mother got her hands on a dark spell book once, and it almost got me into a heap of trouble.”
“Almost? What happened?” I asked.
She frowned. “Let’s just say that I was invited to the prom by Eric Healy, who I thought at the time was a real dreamboat.” Her hazel eyes took on a faraway look. “That boy was so handsome and popular. He was even on the football team, a receiver I believe. Well, I learned later that he’d
only asked me out on a dare and was going to leave me stranded, alone at the prom. But, he’d fessed up a couple of hours before the date.”
“He did?” I asked, amazed that he’d been such a jerk and even more amazed that he’d come clean and confessed.
“What a loser,” said Tyler. “You were obviously too good for him and he realized it.”
She smiled. “Tyler, I know now that I was, but at that time, I was miserable.”
“I bet,” said Rebecca. “People can be so heartless.”
“Yes, they can. I have to admit that I was still really upset, and not just at him. I was furious at the girl who’d put him up to it. Gladis Phipps, that two-faced snob. Anyway, he’d told me that he had a crush on her, and that she’d agreed to go out with him only if he shamed me in front of everyone at the prom. Can you imagine?”
“It sounds like something Mark would do,” I replied.
“Indeed. Anyway, when I found out about it, I opened up that dark spell book and would have probably used one if my mother hadn’t stopped me.”
“Really?” I asked, unable to believe that Clarice would even consider using Black Magic.
She sighed. “Yes. I was so devastated that night. I’d never done anything to Gladis, and yet she wanted to humiliate me so cruelly. Yes, I was more than ready to teach her a lesson.”
“But, your mother calmed you down and talked you out of it?” asked Rebecca.
“She did. It took a bit of persuading, but she knocked some sense in me. And you know what? After high school, I heard that they were married and lived unhappily ever after together. So, I guess you could say that karma claimed them and my own soul was spared. Who knows what would have happened if I’d have taken my revenge and really hurt them that night?”
“If you would have, I think it’s fair to say that you might not be here with us tonight,” stated Rebecca. “Helping us.”
And I wouldn’t have Chloe, I thought. And Adrianne wouldn’t have had a chance.
Clarice nodded. “I’m sure you’re right. Mother always told me that using even one dark spell like that can change the entire course of your life. Once you go down that road, it’s hard to find an exit.”
“Wow,” I replied. “Thank goodness for your mom. It’s too bad that she died, I would have loved to have met her.”
Enchanted Objects: (Witches Of Bayport) Page 3