Emmy and the Coven of Witches

by Janine Summers

“I know there’s still a few months till graduation, but I thought it would be cool to go together. Sarah’s going with Rob, and I want to take you.”

  Emmy looked away.

  “Unless you’d rather go with someone else.”

  “I want to say yes, but…”

  “But?”

  “I don’t know if I’ll be here in a few months.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “This morning, my grandmother told me that we may be moving to another town or state. It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t tell you the truth.” Emmy watched him closely. His dark eyes were centered on her.

  “You didn’t answer me.”

  “If you still want to take me, then my answer is yes.”

  “Great!”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” Emmy said, and ran down the street. She stepped on the porch, glanced down the street and saw Danny standing there almost perplexed. She opened the door and went inside. “Grammie, I’m home.”

  “In the kitchen, Emmy.”

  She walked through the living room and entered the kitchen, where she found Grammie standing by the sink washing vegetables for dinner. Emmy planted a kiss on her cheek.

  “How was your day?” Grammie asked, as she always did.

  “Okay.”

  “Do you have any homework?” Grammie chopped the vegetables.

  “Something smells good.” Emmy raised her chin and sniffed the air.

  “Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and mixed veggies.”

  “Sounds good!”

  “You didn’t answer my question,” Grammie said with a smirk.

  “Yes, I have homework.”

  “You have time before dinner.”

  “Okay. I’ll go change and start.”

  A few minutes later, she brought her school bag and computer into the kitchen. She set it up on the table, so she could talk to Grammie about Danny. Emmy’s eyes never left her grandmother. What would she say when Emmy told her about Danny?

  “I need to talk to you.”

  “Oh?” Grammie sat down at the table while a frown marred her usually jovial face. “Is anything wrong?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Maybe you’d better tell me what’s going on?”

  Emmy took a deep breath and looked at her grandmother. Her blue eyes paled next to Emmy’s, but they were always full of love.

  “Danny asked me to graduation.” There, she said it. Now all she had to do was wait for Grammie’s reply and hope it would be positive.

  “Really?” Grammie smiled at Emmy.

  “He wanted to make sure no one else had the chance to ask me.”

  “I see. When did this happen?”

  “He walked me home.”

  “What? You brought him here?” Grammie hurried to the front window and searched the streets. Her head moved from side to side and when she felt there was no imminent danger, she returned to the kitchen.

  “What was that all about?” Emmy stood in the living room trying to figure out why Grammie acted so strange.

  “I was checking. You were saying?”

  “Grammie, you’re acting even stranger than usual. I left him at the corner and ran home. I know the rules.”

  “Good.”

  “I know you’re only thinking about my safety, but its really weird that I can’t let anyone, other than Sarah know where I live.”

  Grammie stood and went to the fridge where she removed a pitcher of lemonade she’d made that morning. Emmy loved Grammie’s homemade lemonade; it was never too tart or sweet.

  “Emmy, I understand how you feel, but there are some things not meant for discussion. You’ll have to trust that what I’m doing, I’m doing for you.”

  “I know, but it doesn’t make understanding any easier.”

  The older woman laughed. “True, but back to Danny. What did you tell him?”

  “I thought I should be honest, and tell him about the possibility that we may move.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He still wants to take me.”

  “I see.”

  “Grammie, I can go to my graduation, can’t I?”

  “We’ll see.”

  “I have to know. If I won’t be here, then I need to give him the chance to ask someone else.”

  “I worry about you.”

  “There’s no need to worry. I’m not a child anymore.”

  “You are growing up, but there’s so much you don’t know and that worries me.” Grammie sipped from her glass, a faraway look clouding her blue eyes.

  They jumped when Emmy’s cell phone rang. She removed it from her back pocket and saw Sarah’s name flashing. She stood, went into the family room and sat on the sofa.

  “Hi Sarah.”

  “So, what happened?” Sarah was bursting with excitement.

  “He asked me to the dance.”

  “I knew it! I’m so excited!”

  “Don’t be. I told him that we might be moving.”

  “What did he say?” Her tone turned serious.

  “He still wants to take me.”

  “Yay! This is so great! We’re gonna have a blast!”

  Emmy held the phone away from her ear and laughed. “I have to go. Grammie and I were discussing graduation and my date.”

  “Okay, okay. Let me know what she says.”

  “Will do. Bye.” She hung up and returned to the kitchen.

  “How’s Sarah?”

  “Excited.”

  “Emmy, we need to talk.”

  “Grammie, please don’t say we’re moving. I want to stay here.”

  “I know, but I can’t make any promises.” Grammie’s pale blue eyes held unshed tears.

  “What’s going on? I know you’re keeping things from me. I wish you wouldn’t. I’m old enough to make some decisions with you. Please talk to me.”

  “There’s nothing to say. I thought a change might be good for us both, but now I’m not certain if it’s the right thing to do.”

  “I want to stay here and graduate with my friends. I want to go to the dance with Danny and Sarah.”

  “I can’t make any promises,” Grammie repeated.

  “Why not?”

  “Emmy,” she began, but stopped. “Do your homework. We’ll talk later. I have to finish making dinner.” Without another word, Grammie went into the kitchen on the pretense of doing something else.

  Emmy watched her grandmother and noticed how still she was. An intense and pensive look marred her elderly features.

  A while later, they ate dinner. Grammie talked about many things except… graduation. Emmy wondered what her grandmother was keeping from her, and why. There had to be a reason for this behavior; she wasn’t cryptic by nature. On the contrary, they’d always been able to talk about anything, but lately, Grammie had become secretive and that made Emmy nervous.

  After dinner, they went into the family room and watched TV until it was time for bed. Emmy went upstairs and readied herself. She crawled into bed and pulled the covers over her. Grammie came in and sat next to her. Strange behavior, for her guardian hadn’t tucked her in since she was a child.

  “Emmy, I know you don’t understand why I’m thinking about leaving Salem.” She held up her hand to stop her granddaughter from replying. “But I have my reasons and soon, you’ll know what they are and why I feel this move may be best.”

  “I hope so. I don’t understand anything.”

  “I know. For now, we’ll stay in Salem.”

  “Thank you, Grammie.” Emmy hugged her. She left the room and closed closing the door behind her.

  Slowly, Emmy’s eyes closed, and sleep took her away from the small brick house, and into the hallway of a large, dark castle.

  Emmy walked down a stone
corridor. She stopped in front of a mirror where an older, but very beautiful woman with long, silver hair and bright blue eyes stared back. Emmy was trapped within the strange woman’s body and failed to recognize the reflection staring back at her. Emmy looked down and saw the woman’s silver robes trailing behind her, as she walked away and found the door to freedom. This was her only means of escape. The sound of voices approached. She reached for the handle and tried to open the door, but instead of finding the freedom she craved, she felt the long finger of death seize her earthly form. She crumpled to the floor.

  Emmy sat up, trembling in fear from of the nightmare she’d had. Uncertainty filled her, as she thought of the beautiful woman, and the sword that ended her life. She wondered if the nightmare and the deadly deed were as real, as they felt.

  Should she talk to Grammie about this, or was it better left in the world of dreams? She’d decide what to do in the morning.

  CHAPTER 3

  A GOOD-LOOKING GUY

  Morning brought sunshine into Emmy’s room, forcing her blue eyes open. She sat up and looked around her room. The remnants of a disturbing nightmare haunted her, but she pushed it away and readied herself for school.

  “Good morning, Emmy,” Grammie said, as she spooned some eggs and placed a slice of toast onto a plate. “Eat up. I don’t want you to be late for school.” She wore her usual light-colored pants and multicolored button-down blouse.

  Emmy looked at the clock on the wall. “I won’t be.”

  Grammie sat across from Emmy. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Kind of.”

  “What’s wrong?” Grammie always knew when something troubled Emmy. She sat down with her coffee and stared at her granddaughter.

  “Nothing.” Emmy shivered slightly, when her thoughts returned to the nightmare. For some strange reason, the dream felt real. What a disturbing thought. Maybe it was a one off and tonight, she’d be back to sleeping and dreaming normal dreams.

  “Emmy, the dream world can be a calming place, or it can be a very dangerous place. If you are being plagued by nightmares, you should talk to me about them, I may be able to help you.”

  “I had a weird dream.” She couldn’t understand how Grammie always knew when she’d had a nightmare. This wasn’t the first time she told Emmy about the dream-world, but this nightmare was different — this one held more substance.

  “Even weird dreams can have some significance. I might be able to interpret them for you. You know I enjoy such things.” Grammie’s eyes were intense.

  “I don’t remember too much about the dream, but if I do, I’ll write it down.”

  “All right. We’ll talk about it later.”

  “I’d better get going.” Emmy kissed Grammie’s cheek, wanting to end this discussion.

  “Please be careful today.”

  “Why?” She put on her backpack and looked quizzically in her direction.

  “No reason. I worry.” Grammie smiled.

  “I know. I’ll see you after school.”

  Emmy left the house and made her way down the sidewalk. Trees lined the street, having stood majestically for more than one hundred years, providing shade over the sidewalks. Her thoughts didn’t linger on the old homes that once housed people who were party to the Salem Witch trials. Her mind revisited the nightmare, and she pondered the identity of the slain woman. She failed to see the ocean, or the thick red line that led tourists on a journey around the infamous town and all its attractions.

  She pushed her thoughts away from the dream and lifted her head to embrace the sun’s rays, as it touched her fair hair. She squinted and glanced across the street where she spotted a young man. He leaned casually against the lamppost, but for some strange reason, she felt as though his eyes were following her. Emmy tried to look away without success. She was drawn to his good looks; shetried to tear her gaze away, but it wasn’t easy.

  She took another step and felt his eyes follow her. His hair touched his shoulders in waves and she wondered if it was soft to the touch. What ae you thinking? She chided herself. He was probably waiting for his model-like, girlfriend and, realizing he was older, she knew he’d have no interest in her.

  She spotted Sarah waiting at the corner and hurried her pace. “Hi,” Sarah said and fell into step next to her friend. Both girls had blue eyes, but Emmy’s were the color of the sky just before clouding over, while Sarah’s were as pale as the blue dulled by the sun’s brilliance.

  Although similar in coloring, Sarah’s hair had golden hues; while Emmy’s pale hair was closer to the color of yellow gold mixed with platinum. Her friends envied her hair, and many tried to imitate her coloring with highlights, but the results paled in comparison.

  “Sarah, is there a cute guy standing across the street?” Emmy didn’t want to turn around.

  Sarah’s blue eyes searched the area. “I don’t see anyone. What did he look like?”

  Emmy turned around and saw him leaning against the light post. “He’s over there.” She didn’t want to point at him or acknowledge him, but from the quirky smile he wore, she felt he knew that he was part of their present conversation.

  “Emmy, I don’t see anyone. Maybe he left.”

  Emmy turned once more and saw that he was still leaning against the post. She didn’t know what to say. “Yeah.” Emmy thought it was easier to agree. Why couldn’t Sarah see him? Ever since the nightmare, she’d felt at odds with what was real and what wasn’t.

  They reached the school and went inside, but Emmy kept thinking about the cute guy leaning against the light post.

  At three o’clock, Emmy and Sarah went to their lockers to retrieve their homework.

  “Can we meet up later?” Sarah asked.

  Emmy remembered her promise to Grammie. “Can’t. I promised I’d stay home tonight.”

  “Too bad.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Maybe this weekend?” Sarah was hopeful.

  “I’ll try.”

  “We’re all meeting at the movies.”

  “I know. Danny mentioned it to me. I’ll do my best.” Emmy wished she could join her friends, but she knew Grammie wouldn’t allow it, at least not now.

  “Cool.”

  As soon as Emmy stepped out into the sunlight, she saw the lone figure watching her.

  “There he is,” Emmy told Sarah.

  “Where?” Sarah looked around but it didn’t seem like she could see him.

  “Across the street. He’s by the stoplight,” Emmy said.

  “I don’t see anyone except the guys from class.”

  Emmy stared at him and felt his eyes burning into her. Who was he, and what did he want? Suddenly, she tensed. Why couldn’t Sarah see him? Why was he staring at her? Even though he was hot, he was freaking her out. She sensed there was something different about him and sensed the electrical currents riding on the wind. She had to get home.

  “Is he gone?” Sarah asked looking at him, but not seeing him.

  “Yeah, he’s gone,” she lied. This was getting on her nerves. Sarah was staring right at him.

  “Too bad. I wanted to see this hot guy.”

  “Oh well. Maybe tomorrow.”

  At the crossroads, Sarah went to the right. “Talk to you later.”

  “Bye.” Emmy waved to her friend and made her way home.

  Emmy searched the area and sighed with relief when she couldn’t see the cute guy any longer. But when she turned back, he stood ahead of her and wore that same annoying smile. She hadn’t seen him pass her. She wanted to march up to him and demand to know why he followed her. Then again, maybe the coward’s way out was best. She ran home wanting to talk to Grammie about this, and the changes she sensed. The charge hung around her like summer’s humidity.

  She walked inside. “Grammie, I’m home!”

  Grammie came into the
room drying her hands on a dishtowel. “How was your day?”

  “Weird.”

  “Oh? What happened?”

  “Nothing happened. It’s just…” She let her words trail off, trying to put the pieces together.

  “Come into the kitchen,” Grammie said. She went to the fridge and removed a pitcher of milk. She placed it on the table, went to the cupboard, and returned with a plate of cookies.

  Shock registered, when Emmy saw the after-school snack was cookies, they were a treat Grammie reserved for special occasions.

  She sat down and smiled. “I thought you could use a special treat today.”

  “I guess I could.”

  “What is it Child?”

  She chose her words carefully. “Grammie, I think someone’s following me.”

  “What? Who’s following you?” Grammie jumped up from the table.

  “I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before.”

  “It’s a man?” Grammie’s voice was indignant and turned toward the living room.

  “It’s a guy. He’s a little older than me, but he’s so cute with dark hair and great eyes. I couldn’t see their color, but I’ll bet they’re great.”

  “I see. And you didn’t recognize him?” Grammie sat back down.

  “No. He’s not in any of my classes. I think he’s too old for junior high.”

  “Maybe he likes you.” Grammie finished another cookie.

  Emmy blushed. “Grammie, I don’t even know who he is. But what’s strange is when I pointed him out to Sarah, she couldn’t see him.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s like, I’m the only one who can see him, but that’s not possible. Is it?” She searched for answers.

  “I suppose not.” Grammie looked away.

  “Grammie, what’s going on? I know you’re keeping secrets.” Emmy’s senses were heightened.

  “What are you talking about?” Grammie nervously drank her milk, her hand shaking slightly.

  “I can sense something’s off. Ever since I had those weird dreams, I’ve been sensing things.”

  “Such as?”

  “I don’t know how to explain it, but I know something’s not right. I wish you’d tell me what’s happening. I know you’re hiding something.”