The Ghost and the Witches' Coven

by Bobbi Holmes

  Fortunately, she heard no gunfire, and while she was not a firearms expert, she was fairly certain the one they had shoved in her face hadn’t been fitted with a silencer. She assumed her sisters were currently tied up as she was, considering she now heard loud voices coming from another part of the house, and they didn’t belong to her sisters.

  If it wasn’t for the morning sunlight slipping through the edges of the closed curtains, Kenzy Baird would be sitting alone in the dark. Tied to a chair in her bedroom, she tried to listen to what was going on, but all she could hear was a bunch of strange chanting and gibberish, presumably coming from those witch terrorists who had ripped her from bed at gunpoint. Or more accurately, wannabe witches. It sounded as if they were in the living room.

  She had been trying to figure out why they had shoved a ruby ring in her face, when it came to her—their YouTube channel. Weeks earlier she had watched a few of their YouTube videos, but soon found them utterly ridiculous and stopped watching. However, there had been something about a ruby—not a ruby ring—but the gemstone. On the video they claimed a ruby held special powers that could block and steal a witch’s magic.

  Remembering that, Kenzy stared at her closed door and wondered if her sisters were all right.

  The intruders had pushed all the living room furniture to the walls, opening the center of the room. They had tied her to a kitchen chair placed in the middle of the room, encircled with votive candles, all flickering with tiny flames. They had gagged her after she kept asking about her sisters and demanding they tell her what they wanted. Whatever they wanted, it wasn’t to engage in dialogue.

  With a gag shoved unceremoniously into her mouth, Finola watched as the Parker women continued to chant while walking around her in a circle. There were not enough of them to hold hands to make a circle that would fit around her and the candles. To solve this problem, the women had brought along three pieces of red rope, all the same length. In each sister’s hands they held an end of rope, thus forming a circle large enough to walk around her and the candles. She silently wished their dresses were a little longer; perhaps then one of them might catch a hem in a flame, considering how close they walked by the candles.

  Finola wondered how long they planned to keep this up, and what exactly did they hope to accomplish? She guessed she had been tied to the chair for well over two hours. This was the third time they had done this chanting, only to disappear into the kitchen before returning. Each time they returned, they seemed a little more agitated than before. It was as if they expected something to happen that had not happened yet, and were getting frustrated.

  They finally finished and once again stormed out of the room and marched off toward the kitchen, taking their red ropes with them. Finola did not know if she should be relieved they left again or afraid. One thing she was grateful for—minutes before they had broken into her house and dragged her from bed, she had returned from using the bathroom. “At least I don’t have to pee,” Finola told herself.

  “Why isn’t it working?” Davina demanded, throwing the piece of rope she had been carrying onto the kitchen table.

  “Because the Bairds are powerful witches,” Bridget said. “We’re just lucky we have this ruby to protect us. Can you imagine what they could do to us if free to unleash their magic?”

  “Bridget is right,” Aileana told Davina. “The fact we have them utterly helpless proves how powerful the ruby is.”

  “We did have a gun,” Davina reminded her.

  “When does a gun have actual power over a witch’s magic?” Bridget asked.

  Davina picked up the piece of rope and said, “We know this has power over a witch. Hang them all.”

  “But it won’t really kill them. It didn’t kill Gavenia, not even after they burned her at the stake,” Bridget reminded her.

  “This isn’t about just killing them,” Aileana reminded her.

  “Then don’t you think we should find the Leabar first? Before we vanquish them?” Davina asked.

  Bridget considered the question for a moment. “Perhaps that’s why this is taking so long.”

  “What do you mean?” Davina asked.

  “According to the book, part of the power of the ruby is knowing what is best for its master,” Bridget explained.

  “And we’re its master,” Aileana said proudly.

  “It’s waiting for us to find the Leabar. We just assumed we would look for it after we take care of the Bairds, but what if it isn’t here? Maybe they keep it somewhere else,” Bridget suggested.

  They returned sooner than the last time. Finola watched as the one who seemed to be their leader marched to her and ripped off her gag.

  “Where is the Leabar?” the woman demanded.

  Finola’s eyes widened. “What do you know about the Leabar?”

  “I know you have it. You stole it from my family. I want it back.”

  Finola silently studied the woman and finally asked, “Who are you?”

  “I don’t believe you don’t know who I am,” the woman countered.

  “I know you’re all sisters. I know you own Pagan Oils and More. I know you claim to be blood witches. I’ve read your names in the newspaper, but I have no idea which one you are. And I know you and your sisters have been stalking us for years.”

  “I’m Bridget Parker. Where is the Leabar?”

  “I’m not telling you. And I don’t know why you claim we stole it from your family. It’s been in my family for generations.”

  Bridget reached out to the necklace around Finola’s neck. As her fingertips touched it, Finola jerked back, trying to distance herself.

  “You aren’t the White Hawk, are you?” Bridget whispered.

  “Oh, my gawd, Helena was your great-great-grandmother, wasn’t she?” Finola gasped.

  The woman had been watching them since they had returned yesterday. After overhearing their plans, she had stowed away in the back of their van, confident they would drive that when they left in the morning. She had been correct. When they arrived at the house, she waited until they went inside before getting out and standing in the bushes so she could look in the windows. She had only been in the bushes for a few minutes when one had returned to the van and moved it into the garage, concealing it from view.

  None of the blinds were open at the house, yet fortunately the ones in the living room had not been drawn completely, so she could look inside. Not long after arriving, she witnessed them performing some ritual in the living room, with Finola tied to a chair. Periodically they would stop, and then return, repeating it all over again. This seemed to go on for hours.

  Concerned about the welfare of the other Baird sisters, she had walked around the house, peeking in windows. Although all the blinds remained closed, she could still see into rooms, along the edges of the curtains that had not been drawn completely. She spied Ina in one room, tied to a chair. In another room she found Kenzy, also tied to a chair. Unlike their older sister, neither wore gags.

  She had returned to the living room window. Finola sat in the center of the room, tied to a chair, dozens of candles flickering around her in a circle. A few minutes earlier Bridget had marched into the room, followed by her two sisters. She had walked up to Finola and jerked the gag from her mouth. Bridget asked Finola something, but she couldn’t hear what they were saying. It was when Bridget reached for Finola’s necklace—the one that matched the necklace she wore—that she muttered, “What have I unleashed?”

  Thirty-Five

  Sunrise came just minutes past six on Monday morning. Over two hours before Francine Stewart showed up at the chief’s office, the three reluctant campers were awake, having wild berries for breakfast and watching the sun come up. Marie, who had watched over the three during the night, made a quick trip back to Frederickport to get Eva and to go over the plans with Chris and Danielle.

  By the time Marie returned to the camp with Eva, Walt was burying the campfire while Heather and Brian folded the tarps.

  �
��Eva and Marie are here,” Heather told Brian as she took his folded tarp from him and placed it with the other two. She then looked at Eva and asked, “Did they find my broken fingernail in the van? Did they arrest the Parkers?”

  “Yes, they found it. But I’m afraid the Parkers came up with a plausible explanation.” Eva then recounted what the Parkers had told the police.

  “I guess this means I get to be in on the arrest,” Brian said after Heather repeated what Eva had just said.

  “You’ll enjoy that, won’t you?” Heather teased.

  “I will. So what happens now?” Brian asked.

  “We need to find the road,” Eva said. Heather repeated Eva’s words for Brian.

  Eva and Marie rose high into the air, over the treetops. Walt, who had finished covering the campfire, stood next to Heather while they both looked up into the sky.

  “What are you looking at?” Brian asked.

  Heather pointed upward. “Eva and Marie, what did you think?” She used one hand to shade her eyes from the morning sun.

  With a frown, Brian looked up to where Heather and Walt looked, yet only saw the treetops and clouds in the blue sky.

  A few minutes later, Marie and Eva returned to the ground.

  “I think you have been walking in circles,” Eva told them.

  “Why do you say that?” Heather asked.

  Eva pointed in one direction and said, “Because the clearing where the Parkers took you is that way, and just beyond it is the road.”

  “That’s impossible,” Walt said.

  “What’s impossible?” Brian asked.

  “We have been walking in circles,” Heather explained.

  Brian frowned.

  “I’m fairly certain I know what highway that road leads to,” Marie said. “I’m going to go check it out and then let Danielle and Chris know. It’s going to take them a good hour to drive here. Eva will stay and lead you to the road.”

  “Wait, Marie!” Heather called out.

  “What’s going on?” Brian asked. Heather hushed him.

  Marie, who had risen in the sky again, looked to Heather. “Yes?”

  Heather picked up the three folded tarps and offered them to Marie.

  “What am I supposed to do with those?” Marie asked.

  “I don’t want to carry them. I don’t want to leave them here, either. You’re going that way, anyway. Can’t you just drop them off by the road, and we’ll pick them up there?” Heather asked.

  Marie let out a sigh but focused on the tarps.

  Brian watched as the three tarps floated out of Heather’s arms and drifted into the air, moving over the treetops and out of sight. He continued to watch even after they were no longer visible. Finally, he muttered, “Nothing unusual about that.”

  “You’re awake?” Marie said with surprise when she popped into Marlow House on Monday morning and found Danielle and Chris in the kitchen. Chris sat at the table with a map book and a cup of coffee while Danielle busily made sandwiches.

  “Morning, Marie,” Chris said between sips of coffee.

  “Of course we’re awake,” Danielle said, adding slices of cheese to the open sandwiches laid out on the counter. “Eva said once the sun was up, you could figure out where they are. Did you figure it out?”

  “Yes, I know where they are,” Marie said brightly. She looked to Chris and said, “Good, a map book. I’ll show you.” The next moment the book opened.

  After Marie showed Chris where Walt, Brian and Heather would be waiting, she looked over to Danielle, who was now wrapping sandwiches in waxed paper. “I do believe they’ll appreciate that.”

  “I know you said they had fish, but I thought they still might be hungry,” Danielle said.

  “They didn’t have fish this morning. Just wild berries. I don’t think it appealed to them three meals in a row. Plus, they were a little excited to get going.”

  Danielle placed the wrapped sandwiches in a box. “Let me get the brownies I made, some chips and the water, and then we can leave. I can’t wait to see Walt!”

  “I’m more curious to see Brian,” Chris said with a snicker. “Wonder how he’s taking all this.”

  “He seems to have accepted all his new knowledge in stride,” Marie said. “And it appears he and Heather have formed a bond. They were up for hours last night, whispering.”

  “Whispering about what?” Chris asked.

  Marie shrugged. “I don’t know. But when she fell asleep, she snuggled up to him all night. I was tempted to move them apart a bit—didn’t seem quite right—but it was probably cold up there. I imagine they were taking advantage of the body heat.”

  “No other reason Heather would cuddle up to Brian Henderson,” Chris said with a snort.

  “Hey, it’s totally understandable for two very different people to form a bond after a shared traumatic experience. And getting kidnapped and left in the forest would be traumatic,” Danielle said. She then asked, “What about Walt? How did he do last night?”

  “He slept soundly, on the other side of the fire. I think he was pretty exhausted, and with me there, he didn’t feel compelled to be on guard,” Marie explained.

  It took them half an hour to reach the dirt road, with Eva leading the way. They had been walking along that road for almost an hour, heading towards the highway, with Brian and Heather trailing some distance behind Eva and Walt.

  “It looks like Walt is talking to himself,” Brian noted. Although Walt’s back was to him, he periodically turned his head and said something.

  Heather laughed. “No, Eva’s walking next to him.”

  “So Danielle never gets jealous of Eva? Is it because she’s a ghost?” Brian asked.

  “I don’t think Walt ever felt about Eva like he does about Danielle, and I think Danielle knows that,” Heather said.

  “I’ve seen her portrait. She was quite beautiful,” Brian said.

  “She still is.” Heather continued to walk alongside Brian, watching Eva and Walt lead the way.

  “So how did this all work? Walt and Eva just hung around as ghosts together, and then Danielle showed up?”

  “Nah. Walt didn’t even realize he was dead until Danielle moved in. And he didn’t learn Eva had stuck around until much later. Chris likes to say Walt was on house arrest at Marlow House. He couldn’t leave.”

  “Why was that? Was he being punished for something?” Brian asked.

  Heather shrugged. “Being able to see ghosts doesn’t mean I understand why things happen the way they do. I can only speculate. Personally, I think the universe had plans for Walt.”

  “The Universe? Are you talking about God?” Brian asked.

  “Whatever you want to call it.”

  “So what plans did the Universe have for Walt, do you think?”

  Heather stopped walking for a moment and looked at Brian. He stopped too and looked at her.

  “What do you think?” she asked. “Danielle, of course. They’re soul mates.” They started walking again.

  “You really believe that? People have soul mates?” Brian asked.

  “I didn’t before Walt and Danielle. But I do now.”

  After a few moments of silence, Brian asked, “Do Eva and Marie know things you don’t?”

  “I’m pretty sure they know more than they can tell us. In fact, Walt even says he feels there are certain things he forgot when he came back over to this side. But all the answers? I don’t think you learn those until you go through the next door.”

  “And what door is that?” Brian asked.

  “I guess whatever door Marie and Eva have refused to walk through.”

  “I have another question.”

  “Sure. What?”

  “Why can Marie move things, but Eva can’t?”

  Heather shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’m sure the Universe has its reasons.”

  The dirt road went up a slope, and when Brian and Heather reached the rise, Walt and Eva were already heading down. In the distance was
the highway, and Heather spied Danielle’s Ford Flex driving in their direction. Brian spied the car at the same time. Relief flooded over the pair. Heather jumped up excitedly while Brian let out an exuberant cheer. In their shared excitement, they turned to each other, and Heather flew into Brian’s open arms.

  “We’re rescued!” Heather cried as Brian twirled her around in a circle. Both laughing and relieved, the twirl ended, and as Brian let Heather slide down so her feet again touched the ground, neither pulled away but looked into each other’s eyes, and without thought—they kissed.

  When the kiss ended, they abruptly released hold of the other, stepped back, their eyes wide in shock, and stared a moment at the other one.

  “We’d better catch up with them,” Heather finally said.

  “Yes,” Brian agreed, his expression unreadable.

  Danielle couldn’t help but think, what if someone made a movie about my life? Would this scene come across as dramatic or comedic? Considering the way her stomach had been churning since Walt first went missing, and how her heart now raced in anticipation of seeing him again, it felt high drama—high emotion. But would that come across in a movie? She had let Chris drive her car; she was too edgy to be behind the wheel. Since leaving Frederickport, they had been following Marie, which was basically like driving behind an elderly version of the Flying Nun, minus the habit.

  When Danielle saw them standing along the side of the highway, she phoned the chief to let him know they were about to pick them up. When Chris pulled over a few minutes later, Danielle was already opening her car door and practically outside. Chris yelled at her to be careful, but she wasn’t listening. He remained sitting in the driver’s side of the car a moment and watched as Danielle ran to Walt—who was already running to her, leaving Eva behind him, and behind Eva trailed Brian and Heather.

  Danielle flew into Walt’s arms, and the two were still kissing when Heather and Brian walked past them, each pretending to ignore the embracing couple and clearly relieved to be rescued. Chris got out of the car and met Heather, whom he gave a brief hug, and then he turned to Brian. He started to shake Brian’s hand, but was surprised when Brian didn’t accept the handshake, but insisted on a hug.