A Moonlit Task

by Tom Hansen

  “Oh, but I cannot. You sent him to kill me, do you not remember? I cannot take a corporeal form.”

  “But you can talk through this witch, can’t you? I can force you. I can. You see, while you’ve been playing herbalist, being an utter disgrace to our profession, I’ve been working on a plan, a plan for greatness. The dreams started a year ago, calling to me. The way has been prepared. The gate will open. All those worthy will gaze upon his face in terror.”

  Anca stared directly at Nancy at this point, and her gaze bored into her with a discomfort that Nancy had never experienced.

  Anca continued. “I had a feeling you had been tagging along, whispering into this bitch’s ear the whole time. You took the figurine from me, my link to the beast. I knew you had to have given it to her. I was waiting for her to give it back, but no, you kept it from me. Now where is it? Is it with the book?”

  Anca turned to grab something from the desk. It was a hairbrush with a stained wooden handle and natural looking bristles.

  Linda stepped into the space between the podium and Nancy, in the middle of the circle to block Nancy from watching Anca. Anca began to chant over the hairbrush while standing in the circle.

  Linda spoke through Nancy’s mind again. The figurine was given to Peter by his father when he left home. It was the key to keeping him from turning into what he is now. Anca took it and twisted the magic to bend him to her will while in that form.

  So I should have given it to him the first time I saw him?

  Nancy felt regret wash over her. All this, all the deaths and the pain Peter was going through could have been avoided if she had just given the figurine to him. He could have gotten out sooner, and they wouldn’t be in this situation right now.

  You are not to blame. I stopped you each time. If you had given it back to him before now, she would have been able to continue the spell, but since I took it from her and gave it to you, her bond with him is weaker than it’s ever been. I know I told you to return it, but you did well in keeping it from Anca. Once I died, I was able to see clearly, to fully understand the nature of the figurine, and I realized I had given you erroneous information. I bound myself to you through your act of kindness and selflessness to stay here in this world, to follow you around, to help keep you from making the same mistake I made.

  But what if I had given it to him? Would he have been able to take control?

  No. Linda’s ghost seemed to sigh. He would have come back here and Anca would have simply taken it from him.

  “Where are you, you whore?” Anca interjected. She followed Nancy’s gaze to the center of the circle and grinned. She mumbled some kind of incantation and flung her fingers in the direction of Linda.

  It could have been her eyes playing games, but Nancy could swear that the image of Linda was less translucent now. Almost like she could reach out and touch her, assuming she didn’t have her hands still bound.

  “I can see you now.” She pointed the hairbrush at Linda and with a loud, clear voice spoke, “I bind your immortal soul to the sigil on which you stand and key you to the brush that one graced your head.” Sparks fizzled between the brush and Linda.

  Nancy blinked. “What happened,” she asked.

  Anca gave her a glare but immediately looked back at Linda.

  She tried to bind me to the brush, but failed. I knew she has been planning something for a while now, so most of my items of power have been spelled to counteract anything she tried to use on me. I’ve known she was up to no good, but I didn’t know the depths of it if she’s preparing to find the Gate. This is much worse than I thought. Her ghostly visage displayed a worried expression

  Before Nancy had the chance to ask what Linda meant about the gate, Anca hissed and spat at the ghost. “You bitch! At least you are bound to the circle. I will return with something you haven’t spelled.”

  With that, Anca whirled around and marched for the steel door leading back to her apartment.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Anca stormed out of the room, slamming the metal door behind her. The sound hurt Nancy’s ears as it echoed through the cavernous warehouse. She glanced at Edna, who still remained unconscious in the cage, and shivered at the sight of the tiger next to the doorway. She needed to get to Edna, but the tiger, no, Peter, was in the way.

  Was he really the same beast that had jumped on top of her car? The same one that had killed Linda? The whole ordeal was so surreal that Nancy didn’t have time to process it. She just needed to react.

  Something akin to cool water touched her skin. It was the incorporeal form of Linda. She jumped at the odd touch then shook with fright as her skin crawled.

  She’s going to go find something of mine in order to bind me, but she’ll have to test each thing with a spell to find out if I trapped it or not. You only have a few minutes, so please hurry.

  “How can you … are you real?”

  Linda smiled. Of course I am, dear. As real as you. And you are special in that you can see me. Linda’s ghostly eyes that lacked any color seemed to fade in and out. Nancy got the feeling she was reliving something from her past.

  You have grown quite a bit since my death. I am sorry you had to be there to see me die.

  “I’m sorry you had to die.”

  Linda gave a wistful smile, but then pursed her lips and gained a serious expression. Now quick, can you get yourself out of the ropes?

  Nancy remembered that she had the solution on her wrist. Thank you, Edna. "I have a bracelet that conceals a small knife in it. If you can undo the clasp, I might be able to get it opened and cut the ropes.”

  Linda smiled. Not a problem. I can help.

  Linda floated toward Nancy, the passed through her. A deep chill penetrated her body as it happened, causing her to shudder once again.

  Oh, I’m so sorry. I keep forgetting that you can feel that, Linda said.

  “No problem. I am still not used to this whole thing of being a witch. Is there a school?”

  Ghost Linda laughed, an echo-filled hollow sound that made Nancy squirm. There is no school, but you do need to be taught.

  Nancy scrunched up her face.

  You are a witch, and a fairly powerful one from what I can sense. Nancy felt penetrating cold around her wrists as Linda tried to undo the clasp that was out of Nancy’s reach. It’s curious why you didn’t start becoming one until this late in life. It usually shows up at puberty. Was your mother a witch?

  Nancy was taken aback. “No, my parents are just regular people, at least I think they aren’t magical. Both in their eighties. They live in Maine.”

  Linda, still behind her, grunted. There was a click, and the bracelet that Edna had given her what seemed so long ago, unbuckled and slid down her wrist to her open hand.

  “Thank you.” She found the button and pushed. A small blade popped out of the bracelet, allowing her to saw through the ropes.

  Linda appeared back in her vision. Very smart of her, by the way.

  “Who?”

  Edna. That girl sure knows her stuff.

  “She does." Nancy was partway through the rope and could feel it loosen.

  With a tug and some serious pain, Nancy pulled. The rope came apart and she finally managed to get her hands together in front of her. She quickly undid herself the rest of way, severing the bonds at her feet, and pulling off the remaining loops around her wrists. She rubbed them for a second as she ran over to see Edna.

  Before she got there, she froze. The tiger was looking at her; its breathing had quickened. It licked its chops and arched its back, straining against the chain holding it to the wall.

  "Easy, kitty." Visions of the damage this exact cat had done flashed in her mind.

  She is a good friend for you, to be taking this kind of abuse in your name.

  “I know,” Nancy replied. She felt a stab of regret for getting Edna into this. How had things escalated so quickly since finding a dying woman in an alleyway only a week ago? She inched forward, hoping the
chains holding the beast at bay were strong enough. Sweat glistened on her palms, and a lingering hint of vomit hit her nostrils. She felt weak in the knees, but she ignored the threat and focused on what the next step was.

  She finally got to Edna's cage without the cat moving and let her eyes travel from the killer to the lock that kept her friend confined.

  Dammit! It was locked.

  Check Anca’s desk. She was never one for keeping things in pockets or wearing them on herself, Linda replied, her ghostly visage calling to her from the circle still.

  Nancy turned, seeing the tiger again. It lay on its front paws, eyes watching her. Big, sad eyes. “I’m so sorry you are mixed up in this.”

  Nancy's dream from the night before flooded her mind. She remembered the plea of the Chinese woman.

  Peter's mother.

  Nancy ran back to Anca’s desk, and sure enough the keys were lying on the top corner, under a pile of yellowed papers containing characters similar to the ones she’d been seeing recently. She wondered if this was the language of the witches, something she would have to learn in order to cast spells.

  While you’re there, open the top drawer to the other desk. Nancy gave Linda a curious glance but complied. Under the lip will be a small metal switch, pull it.

  Nancy did and a small door on the side of the desk popped open. There should be some papers in there. They are the deed to my herb shop. I want you to have it. Better you than Anca. As promised, a sealed envelope was the only thing in the tiny drawer. She pocketed the papers and slammed the small hidden door and drawer closed.

  To think I’m so close to where I lived the last year. Her voice, already distant and frail, grew more so. Nancy supposed it was, given that she was hearing it with her own ears. The thought gave Nancy pause.

  I’m talking to a ghost, she finally admitted to herself.

  Linda chuckled, her ghostly voice echoy and haunting in it’s pitch. You are that, my dear. You are that.

  Nancy kneeled down in front of the cage. “I keep thinking that I am dreaming. Like this is just stress-induced paranoia. The adrenaline is keeping me on my feet, but I worry that eventually I’m going to wake up or come to in a hospital bed with tubes down my throat and a bevy of nurses rushing around me.”

  Linda’s reply took on a serious tone. No, you are not dreaming, I’m afraid. I realize this isn’t something that you are normally taught in kindergarten, but a lot of the fairy tales are true. The world is a much bigger place than you can imagine.

  “How so?”

  Nancy unlocked the cage door and began to shake Edna, who moaned. Nancy was glad she was alive. She blinked to stave off tears of joy when she heard the sound.

  Linda chuckled. How I wish I was still alive. I would have loved to take you under my wing. But alas, there is no time. I’m not long for this world. Soon Anca will return and bind me, possibly use me and you for her will. That is why it’s so important that you get out of here, my dear. I can’t have you remaining when she gets back.

  “But what about you?” Nancy worked on pulling her friend out.

  Linda sighed. I’m afraid I’m somewhat tied to this fellow here. She pointed to the tiger, the one still looking at Nancy with those big, sad eyes. Since she controls him, she controls me.

  A tear finally escaped Nancy’s eye and rolled down her cheek. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”

  No, dear, you have done all that you can do. Now get Edna and run. Get back to your house; it’s the safest place in the city.

  Nancy looked at the chained tiger to the side of her. Its piercing gaze locked back. Her heart fell as she saw not only his tiger form, but also the boy’s spirit inside of him.

  “I promised to help him and I failed. It's all my fault that he is here right now.”

  No, you need to get out of here. We’ve spent too much time as it is. You must go! There is a fire escape to the other alley on the opposite wall. The door sticks a bit, but it opens to the outside where you can get down the fire ladder.

  “I can’t leave you to be a slave to Anca.” Beside her. Edna began to sit up, holding her head.

  She looked down at the keys still in her hand and up at the tiger—no, Peter—then turned to Linda. “I am sorry for all the pain you have had in your life; I wish we could have been friends earlier to have some better memories.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Anca Petran was in a panic. She’d been all over their bedroom searching for items of power that Linda used to use. Even as a ghost, Linda was powerful and had apparently recognized Anca’s ulterior motives for moving to Madison. She finally found a bottle of wine in the cellar that she knew Linda had not taken the time to spell.

  Her preparation for capturing Nancy would have to wait. She could probably throw her into one of the cages. Having Linda here, now? Anca could use the same spell on Linda first, and then she would need more reagents to cast it a second time.

  It took five steps into the room before Anca realized something was off in her warehouse.

  “Took you long enough,” Nancy stated with an air of superiority, like she wasn't the one tied up and about to be tortured. Anca would enjoy teaching this woman some manners before she enslaved her to do her bidding.

  She scrutinized the cages to her left, spying Nancy’s petulant human friend, still unconscious and right where Anca had left her behind bars. She nodded at the theran, still chained up. The tiger blinked at her before putting his hungry eyes back on the woman in the chair.

  You will have your fill when I am done.

  The friend wasn’t magical at all and would be useless for the spell she had prepared.

  Still, tension ticked in her mind that something in here had changed, and it was probably Linda's fault.

  Damnable woman. You will be mine soon.

  She looked back at her torture victim, sitting on the chair in the middle of the room, in line with both her and Linda’s old desks.

  The barely visible outline of Linda remained trapped in the prepared circle. The temporary binding spell would only last for so long, but this bottle of wine would be enough to keep her there permanently, or at least long enough for her to transfer her spirit to something more powerful.

  Being able to draw upon the magic of a captured spirit could be a powerful thing. If all went will she could eventually conscript her spirit into that of a djinni. It would be a long, arduous spell, but once she had the book back, she would be able to perform the ritual.

  He would be pleased.

  Linda had the audacity to walk back into her life and offer up her spirit for use. It wasn’t what she had planned. It was better.

  Her army was beginning to come together. She had the beast, who she could keep forced in tiger form whenever she needed, outside of the moon cycle. Her bond to him was beginning to weaken, but she would have the grimoire back soon and would be able to renew the connection before the full moon.

  She had Linda’s spirit from which she could draw power. Linda had always been a powerful mage but hadn’t used that power properly. She would tap into it from time to time, but she never seemed to fully embrace the reality of her life as a witch.

  And now she had Nancy Moon. A new witch who had somehow not transitioned at puberty, but instead had done so later in her life. All that untapped power would be something anyone would kill for.

  All the better for Anca. She could train her properly. Use her for whatever she needed. If she didn’t get Nancy’s cooperation, that was fine. If not, she could take what she needed by force.

  But first she needed the book. Dragon would want it back for sure. She was surprised he hadn’t set his two trolls against her. It was just a matter of time before they would come knocking, but by the time they showed up, demanding the grimoire back, she would be long gone, living in Nancy’s house with some of the most sophisticated nullicants she had ever felt woven into the very fabric of the walls, floor, roof, and grounds.

  Oh, she would enjoy pulling that house
apart bit by bit until she unraveled its mysteries.

  Anca stopped in front of her desk, sifting through the various reagents she would need for the permanent binding spell, lost in thought.

  “Well? Cat got your tongue?” Nancy laughed like a maniac at her own stupid joke.

  Anca grimaced. She needed to shut this woman up so she could focus on securing Linda’s spirit. She could torture Nancy all she wanted later, but now she needed uninterrupted focus.

  She dwelled briefly on the notion that for the past fifty years she would have normally asked Linda’s help in doing the more complicated castings, but now she was turning the tide on her old partner, her old lover.

  Linda hadn’t seen the vision; she hadn’t been called to open the gate. Anca was now serving a higher power.

  Her mind bent over itself as she veered to a dark place inside of her, one that had been growing more and more lately. She hadn’t spent most of her life touching this type of magic, but it was always there, always useful, and it was incredibly powerful.

  Pain!

  She screamed as she thrust the power from her fingertips.

  Nancy yelped for a brief second before going silent. The spell would spasm her lungs, forcing all air out of her chest to the point she couldn’t vocalize anymore. Nancy’s back arched and Anca smirked.

  That should keep her silent for a bit.

  She turned back to her desk and started drawing a binding rune on a silver hand mirror with black lipstick.

  Without the ropes binding her wrists together, Nancy had interlocked her fingers behind her back and struggled keeping them together for the duration of the attack spell.

  She couldn’t concentrate enough to keep her arms behind her. She vaguely remembered grabbing her neck in anticipation of losing the ability to breathe. When she was able to gain control of her faculties again, not having her arms pulled from their sockets made the experience a lot less traumatic.

  The pain finally subsided from Anca's latest attack.

  Nancy glanced from Edna’s form to Peter’s then back over to Linda, who was still standing in the circle watching Nancy with a worried look.