by N. I. Rojas
“Easy, missy.” -Was her answer while she raised her hands as white flags of peace. -“So, now you hang out with them?”
“What are you talking about? You have no right to be here.” -I snapped angrily.
“The witch mixing with the hunters. That’s something interesting to see.”
“Hunters? Who’s a hunter?” -Curiosity attacked me again.
“Mamma has the innocence of Lara Croft and the disability of Mary Reed. Don’t let them fool you with love stories. They’ll kill you while stealing you a kiss.” -Edora said. My heart told me she was just trying to scare me. Just one day ago she was talking about Sam and dreaming on marrying him. But my brain, my rational part, told me she was telling the truth.
I couldn’t believe what she was telling me. I knew Sam was a cop, thus some physical abilities are needed, but a hunter? Really, a witch hunter?
“No later than midnight you have to go to the house I showed you yesterday. Someone is waiting for you there.” -Edora said as delivering a message.
“Are you out of your mind? I’m going nowhere close that house again. I know what you are planning.”
“Oh you do? You don’t have the slightest idea of what’s happening in your life.” -She mocked.
“I don’t care. I’m not going.” -I assured her, crossing my arms protectively in front of my body.
“Yes you are going. The bad witch is going to take the little girl if you don’t obey.” -Now Edora was threatening with kidnapping Lilly. She was seriously out of control. First steal my van and now invent lies and threatens Lilly’s safety. -“Poor little thing! Don’t you know she’s the only ungifted one of the entire family?”
“What I have to do to end with this?” -Defeated, I asked her.
“Midnight. Don’t be late. And make sure to send your boyfriend home tonight. Once and for all.” -Edora said before vanishing in between two passing cars.
Chapter 10: Witches or Bitches
My palms sweated more than a cross fit athlete. Just thinking on how I was going to send Sam home tonight I wanted to die. This was seriously getting out of my hands and soon I would be unable to control it. I watched my wrist watch as soon as we parked in front of my house. Eleven fourteen. I had just forty-six minutes to be there. Not even riding an imaginary broom I would be able to make it on time.
Before Sam had the chance to open my door I was out of the van already, slamming the door way too hard. I was angry at myself. Not at him. If I hadn’t given him the chance to enter my life, this would have never happened. I’m so sure of it. Right when my life stops being the boring life of a tedious spinster, this happens. Yeah, is right. Shit happens sometimes.
“Is very late.” -Sam whispered when I was wrestling with the key to open the door. -“I’m sure I can crash on your couch again.”
Finally I found the key. It had been a hard task. I stuck it in the door but it didn’t give away, as if it was held with nails from inside.
“Let me help you.” -Sam offered while taking the keys away from my hands. The traitor door opened smoothly when he put the exactly same key inside. -“You seem kind of distressed. We can talk about it if you want.”
“Sorry, Sam.” -I said, pushing him away gently. -“I have so much to think about.”
I thumped the door in his face and let some tears ran down my cheeks.
“Whatdoes that means, Morgan?” -Sam asked in high, nervous voice. -“Are you in doubt about me? Us? It was bad to take you to my family’s? Too soon?”
“Good night, Sam.” -I yelled, hoping for him to go away. Cruelly, I turned all the lights off.
After his taillights disappeared in the night, I climbed in my minivan and drove as fast as a possessed demon trying not to get lost. The road seemed twisted at times and I was as accustomed as a gorilla to drive out at night. I’m not sure if the reason why I turned the radio on this time was to recall the memories of Sam doing it or just to relax myself, but I did. I feared to fall asleep, perhaps that was all. Stepping hard on the gas, it was fully down already. Clock displaying eleven twenty seven and I knew I wouldn’t make it.
“Slow down, damn clock!” -I yelled, hitting hard the clock display screen.
Looking back at the road, I was lucky to dodge a band of wild horses that were in the middle of the way. They kicked violently and their hooves slammed against my van. Like a fragile doll, I jumped from side to side before steadily holding from the drive wheel. Managing to put distance between them and me, I overlooked a giant tree in the roadside. Smoke filled the van while I tried not to cough and open the door but I had to resist the idea. One of the horses had its rear legs ready to hit my window.
The air bag exploded in my face a few seconds after the collision and I lost the breath I was holding so dearly. Even I was coughing hard, I managed to move the shifter to reverse and hit the gas pedal. The van skidded on the wet mud and shook from side to side until it finally moved backwards. Breathing was hard now that my lungs were suffocated with the strange stink coming from the broken air bag.
Unpleasant surprises. Never in my stay in this town I had found wild horses or any other big animal marauding in the roads, except maybe iguanas. Resuming the march I noticed I had less than twenty five minutes to be in the creepy candy house. My van was going forward with difficulty and I was certain that it wouldn’t work without a quick fix.
Watching around I didn’t found any wild animal so I stopped the van and got out of it waving my hands wildly to repair every broken part. It would have been easier to do if I could be concentrated but tonight I was just nervous and worried about Lilly. The work wasn’t perfect but what mattered was for the van to run fast like an awesome racing car. A stifled neigh bellowed right behind me and I ran to get in my van, getting tangled with debris from fallen branches and garbage scattered around. I imagined the fall before feeling it, but men! It hurt so badly.
While my face sweated and my hands slipped from the wheel, my foot was hitting the gas hard. It was midnight already when I drove by a street I recognized as the one Edora had guided me. I parked in a side of the street and walked directly to the house, fearing what was going to happen. My watch wrist beeped, notifying me it was twelve sharp. It was so dark and the cold was so excruciating that I regretted not having a coat with me. Fog was dense and it was hard to see just a few steps ahead. Despite the fear, despite my worries, I kept moving forward until I touched the fence.
At my touch it melted away and animals came in stampede straight to me.
“Edora.” -I called trying to be heard over the noises of the brawling of animals. -“I’m here.”
The beep of my clock stopped. Midnight. Plus one minute. Nobody answered my call and the silence forced me to walk deep into the property. There it was. The house. I hurried to the front door but before I could knock, the candy house vanished right in front of my eyes, turning to a normal old shack.
“Edora?” -I called again, this time with fear beyond recognition. -“Where are you?”
Soon it hit me. It was a trap. I had left them all alone and the witch had taken this chance to take anyone of them. But who was her first victim tonight?
Trying to rewind Edora’s words I had just two possible victims: Lilly, because Edora said she was ungifted; and Sam, cause Edora told me to send him away.
Edora. Everything summarizes in her. She is the only real threat I have. No. Jerome had said something about an adult witch too. This was so confusing. I started retreating to my van but soon Edora appeared in between the blurry fog left behind by the vanishing house.
“Don’t go, Morgan. Not yet.” -Edora’s whispered words gave me chills. This was a bad feeling. A very bad one.
“I was here on time. What happened?” -I asked deep in uncertainty.
“You didn’t make it to cross the house threshold as she was expecting. So the bad witch got tired of waiting and left.” -Edora hissed.
“Tired of waiting? How much did she waited for me? Like thirty seconds?�
�� -I argued with rage. -“Now is one minute beyond the deadline.”
“Oh, don’t worry. She’ll give you another chance.” -Edora said as if her words could sooth me somehow. -“You just have to send Sam away.”
“I sent him away already.” -I protested.
“You know what I mean, Morgan.” -She said in a mocking tone. In a wimp her face changed to display evil. -“Send him away forever.”
It was hard for me to understand why Sam was suddenly the center of Edora’s and the witch’s concerns. Was it maybe because his supposed hunter status?
“If I refuse?” -I asked defiantly.
“You’ll brace the consequences.” -She replied with a childish twist of lips.
“Is this just because of him?” -I wondered not just in my mind. Tears gathered, bulging my eyes like broccoli mallets.
“Or because of you, Morgan.” -Edora answered after a long pause. -“Maybe she knows more of him than what you do.”
I just wanted to run all the way home. Lose my skin, tear up my whole body and break my soul in love in tiny pieces.
“I’ll give you her instructions soon. For now, work the spell you were planning to do before the hunter appeared. And stay away from Sam Whilhey. That’s an order.”
Chapter 11:Not Broken
It was dawn and I was back home, considering whether to go to my shop or stay home. Both ideas seemed absurd and my brain was only commanding me to the kitchen. No leftovers in the fridge, I surrendered to the spoon and the peanut butter jar. My left hand fed my hunger while my right hand was mixing stuff in a deep mug. Pushing the doughy mix in the microwave, I turned it on high for three minutes. The personal size cake was glorious considering it was cooked in a microwave. A bowl of vanilla ice cream in my freezer screamed my name and I couldn’t help but to put it all in the table and start nibbling here and there with the same spoon. Now I know what depression is about. Engulf myself on food and cry a sea of tears that nobody would be allowed to see. Tears impossible to count.
At the end, I decided to go work. I have to live of something. My determination was teeny but I had to follow instincts, no desires. As soon as I opened the front door and came inside my repaired store, my willpower started to wane. Sam’s face was everywhere and his voice echoed imaginarily through the speakers that started playing music.
Damn you, Enrique and Withney! Why to remind me this? Could I have this kiss forever? And not having felt Sam’s kisses yet, I yearned for them. I’ll keep a single kiss forever, I swear. I can wait forever, Sam had said when I moved away from him, avoiding an almost unavoidable smooch. My already weak knees trembled just by imagining how it could feel.
Stop this, Morgan. You’re just worsening this situation. They all have to die and he has to die as well. But what if…? No if’s, Morgan. Finish with your plan and move on. Cover that stupid heart with melting lava and turn it into solid rock.
Just one day with a real family had caused havoc in my purposes and I just wanted to be normal. A normal, ordinary village girl who wears dresses showing a little cleavage to trap a good husband. Who am I trying to fool? The least I want to be is a clone of Lavender or Connie Marie Blondie Man Eater. I want to be me. There should be someone out there who’s just like me. The meaning of my spells. The reason for my Maghik. Someone who can see the beauty in little things and wouldn’t be afraid of creating havoc if necessary. He has to be somewhere hidden in this senseless world.
As Edora had said, I should stay away from Sam. The reasons weren’t precise but I wanted to know more. Curiosity was attacking me despite being busy filling puffs with cream. What if he’s truly a witch hunter? Would he want me enough to leave everything behind, his hunting and hate for those gifted like me
The day passed by normally. People coming and going, eating and paying. Smiling outside, criticizing me inside.
The phone rang a few times. I delayed answering the call as I was far from it. Truth was, I wasn’t in the mood for running and jumping over dirty tables just to get a customer’s call. I went to the bathroom to wash my suffocated face. The phone started ringing again. This time I managed to pick it up before the call was ended.
“Sweet Menace. What can I bake you?” -I joked, trying to be heard happily.
“Hi, I’m Elizabeth. Can I speak to Morgan, please?”
Elizabeth? Oh, Sam’s sister was calling me? This couldn’t be good.
“How are you, Elizabeth? It’s Morgan.” -I answered nervously.
“Hi.” -Nervousness could be heard over her words. -“I just wanted to thank you for saving Lilly’s party yesterday. Had it not been for you, the whole birthday would have ended a mess.” -Elizabeth praised me.
“It was nothing, really. I’m happy that Lilly had her cake after all.” -I said hoping for her to say goodbye and hang the phone. It was very uncomfortable talking to her.
“I keep wondering how you keep those cakes so moist and delicious in your van.” -She said but it sounded more like a question.
“Oh, I have refrigerated coolers and the whole back of the van is refrigerated to ensure the quality of the desserts I deliver daily. I have a little of everything there, like a foodie flea market.” -I found myself explaining my crazy behavior to Sam’s sister. -“I do caterings and all sort of things for parties.”
“That’s great! Well, it was nice talking to you, Morgan. You can come by the house any time you want. Lilly will be delighted to see you. Mamma will be happy to see you too.” -She offered.
“Thank you!” -I answered. Somehow I felt welcomed into Sam’s family again. I felt awkward to be the first to finish this call so I waited for Elizabeth to do it. I didn’t want to be taken as bad tempered, but the seconds passed by and I felt impatient. -“There’s anything else I can do for you?”
“Can I come by tonight to visit you or is it too intrusive? I just love my brother so much. And Lilly is like… in love with you now, Morgan. You really have a charm.”
Her request left me speechless for a moment.
“Yeah, you can come by tonight.” -I answered, regretting it immediately. -“But I must warn you, Sam and I are just friends. We barely knew each other a week ago. Maybe is too soon…” -I interrupted myself thanks to two different fake coughs from behind the counter.
When I turned around Edora was comfortably sitting close to the big window and Sam was standing right behind me.
“I’ll talk to you later, Elizabeth.” -I said, emphasizing her name. -“I have a few customers to attend. Thanks for calling. And say hi to Lilly and Mamma.”
Panicked, I didn’t know who to look, so I looked from Sam to Edora. From Edora to Sam. His eyes were red, like if he spent the night crying. His facial expression confessed how hurt he felt. My heart gave a flip, almost tearing my bones to jump to his hugs. Edora, on the contrary, was enjoying every moment, challenging me with her fire-changing eyes.
“Can we talk?” -Leaning towards me, Sam whispered close to my ear. I felt like a butter bar left abandoned al fresco and the sun was excruciating, but yet I wanted to melt just to prove it was worthy of trying.
“This is not a good moment, Sam.” -Shaky, I managed to say.
“Why was my sister calling you?” -He asked, frowning.
“You’re feeling well? You look pale.” -I changed the topic. His resemblance was worrying me. Maybe I should take him to a doctor or something. -“Should I take you to the hospital?”
“I’m alright. I just need to talk to you. About yesterday… About last night.” -Suddenly he grabbed my hand and started kissing it. Yes, I was a melting butter. -“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken you home yet. I don’t know what I was thinking. I… I should have asked you first. I’m sorry. I can understand you’re scared but believe me… I won’t do it again.”
Edora walked impatiently from my store now. Her arms were crossed in front of her as if she was my mother and I was about to get a month-long grounding for having a romance coming through my bedroom’s window. Her stern eyes
were fixed on me and she arched her eyebrows like to remember me the words she told me last night.
Managing to rip my hand from him I thought how cruel I was. How crueler I should act in order to send him away. To make him think what an evil woman I am. Perhaps doing some Maghik would force him to stay away. Perhaps that would be my grave. Dying this second was tolerable to me.
“It's better if you leave.” -I dared to say while inside I recognized how bad he was attached to my heart. -“Please.”
He looked at me in disbelief. Trying to mutter some words, Sam found himself voiceless.
“Just go.” -I snapped. -“And please, don’t come back.”
After Sam left, about-face and everything, I just wanted to sit and cry for the second or third time in less than twenty four hours. Edora’s fluttering motions prevented me to give vent to my pain and rage. Maybe I should release my rage with her. Perhaps she was the first to be killed with the perfect killer dessert.
“You did well, Morgan. Anyone would think you’re made of steel feelings.” -Her faked praise was more than what I could withstand.
For long seconds I looked at her. There was no force, human or supernatural, with the capacity to deviate my defiant gaze from her.
“If looks could kill!” -Edora teased. If only she knew how wrong she was doing just by being here.
If looks could kill, I’ll make doughnuts for your funeral, little bitch!
Funny how a killing spree was the biggest of my ideas. Proudly I’ll claim as mine all the credit for the slaughter of this little demon. Happily I’ll dance over her dead body and make a curse, firstborn, just for her. Without worry I’ll crush all her bones myself and with her dust I’ll poison the witch behind her intromission in my life.
“Now, Morgan.” -Edora called me, breaking me away from the spell already gathering inside. -“Focus here, okay?”
Focus? I was focused a few seconds ago. Focused on killing you, freak of nature!
