“Good. Do it again.” Grammie stood and went to the front door. She looked out and saw Ayden at his post. With a quick look behind, she made sure Emmy was busy with her levitation lesson and went outside to speak with the young man.
Ayden watched Grammie’s approach. “Is anything amiss?” It was the first question on his mind. He’d come to love the older woman as though she were his own grandmother. He didn’t have any family, and Ayden enjoyed thinking of Grammie and Emmy as family.
“No. I’m a little surprised to see you here. Is there trouble?”
“The air is thick.”
“I know.”
“The Professor didn’t want to take any chances. He thinks Grisandole will intensify her search. The hags are patrolling the area. They fear their Mistress. There is discord within their ranks.”
“How do you know this?”
“The Professor told me.”
“The hags have been searching for Emmy for some time now. Why should this day be any different?”
Ayden and Grammie looked at each other when the clouds darkened overhead. Something sinister was brewing.
“We think they have centered their search… on you. They hope to capture you, and that will give them the opportunity to force you to give up Emmy.”
“I would die a painful death before I’d allow anyone to harm my girl.”
“I know, but the Professor would rather keep the two of you safe and alive.”
Grammie smiled. “He’s a good man. You’re both good men.”
“Thank you.” Ayden bowed. “Perhaps it’s best if you went back inside. I’ll stay here and keep my invisibility shield on.”
“Ayden, it’s thanks to you my Emmy is safe, and I can sleep at night.” She kissed his cheek and went inside.
Ayden watched Grammie retreat and touched his cheek. He hadn’t felt this close to anyone since he’d come to live with the Professor in the Matchstick House. He had to admit, it was a good feeling. He smiled and leaned against the tree.
CHAPTER 32
EMMY’S DISAPPOINTMENT
Emmy made the toast, which popped out of the toaster, float to the table, while another two slices flew from the plastic bag, and landed in the slots. She pointed her finger at the toaster and slowly, the button crept down and began to toast the bread. Her concentration never wavered.
“How are you feeling?” Emmy worried, when she turned her gaze toward her grandmother and noticed the pallor of her skin. The anger they’d felt yesterday still lingered in the air… an anger only those gifted with magic could sense. But Emmy saw how much worse it was for Grammie. She felt its intensity more than Emmy did and it was wearing her down.
“I’m fine,” Grammie said, trying without success, to sound normal. “There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“Yeah right. Sit down and I’ll get you some breakfast.”
Grammie sat in her chair, just as the toast popped. Emmy looked at it and watched the bread rise from the toaster and fall onto the plate which then floated across the room to land in front of the weary, woman. She made Grammie’s favorite mug come to the table where the coffee pot sat. She poured the hot liquid into the cup and passed Grammie the jam.
“Thank you. That was well done ─ very well done.” Grammie clapped her hands.
“I’ve been practicing.”
“Have you done the homework Sarah gave you?”
“Almost. I got caught up with my magic. Don’t worry I’ll have it done before she gets here.”
“You miss your friends.”
“I do.” The last thing she wanted was to hurt her feelings. “I also understand why things have to be this way and I’m okay with it.” When she saw the skepticism on Grammie’s face, she said, “Really.”
“Now that Grisandole is even more determined to find you, we’ll have to stay close to the house.”
“But my exams are next week. I have to go to school to write them.”
Grammie thought for a moment causing Emmy to fear her ultimate decision. “I’m not sure you will write those exams.”
Emmy stopped chewing her toast. “I have to, otherwise I won’t graduate. I don’t want to repeat the eighth grade. I want to start high school in the fall with my friends.”
“I know you do, but I’m not sure that’s the best thing for you right now.”
“Grammie…”
“We’ll wait and see.”
This wasn’t fair. Why should she miss everything that was important to her? She wanted to graduate. Danny was taking her to the dance. Tears welled in her eyes. There had to be a way for her to attend without danger. The thought of wearing her first formal, was every girl’s dream. She tried to imagine how they’d look all dressed up, and the picture she conjured was nothing short of perfect.
“I know how you feel, Emmy,” Grammie said. She went to her granddaughter when the tears in her eyes trickled down her cheeks.
“I want to finish my year. I have to do this… for me.”
“Yes, you should, unfortunately, Grisandole and her hags are intensifying their search. This may cause us more trouble.”
“So, what happens now?” Emmy wiped her tears away hating her display of weakness. Grammie had enough to worry about, but attending her graduation meant the world to her.
“I don’t know. I’m waiting for word from the coven as to when the next meeting will take place. They’re thinking of relocating us.” Grammie waited for the explosion.
“Where?” The thought of leaving everything she knew, frightened her. Grisandole was stealing her dreams.
“I don’t know. Nothing has been set in stone.” She glanced at her granddaughter and handed her a tissue. “I know this is difficult for you, but I have to think about your safety.”
“Then why not take me to the wand and then we can use it against Grisandole.”
“If it were that simple, we’d already have the wand.”
“I guess, but why do we have to move?”
“We may not need to. I only want to prepare you in the unlikely event that the worst happens.”
She sighed. “I guess.”
“Good. Now finish your homework before Sarah gets here.”
“What’s the use? If I’m not going to graduate, I might as well practice my magic.”
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll speak with the Mistress of our coven and ask her to allow us to stay in Salem… at least until after graduation.”
“Really? Thank you, Grammie!” Emmy hugged her and kissed her cheek.
“Don’t thank me yet, the coven may disapprove of this.”
“I know, but at least you’re on my side.”
“I’m always on your side… but sometimes, I can’t give you what you want.”
“I know.” She was excited they’d settled this matter.
“Good, now get to work.”
“Yes Ma’am.” Emmy put her magic book to one side and replaced it with her schoolbooks. She set about finishing her assignments with renewed interest and gusto.
A couple of hours later, Emmy finished the last project of the year. Satisfied she’d done her best, she took a break. She held two glasses and found Grammie sitting in the living room on a chair positioned toward the window. She felt better watching everything going on outside.
“I brought you some juice.” She gave up a glass and sat down on the sofa.
“Thank you. How’s your homework coming along?”
“I finished my project. That’s the last one for the year.”
“Excellent.”
“I thought I’d take a break and check on you. I’ll finish my math and science assignments in a little while.” Emmy looked out and saw Ayden. He wasn’t usually here when Grammie was home. He waved to her.
“Grammie, are you scared?”
�
��Only for you.”
“Can they find us even though they don’t know where we are?” How far would Grisandole and her hags go to get what they wanted?
“I’m hoping they can’t, but we don’t know anything for certain.” Grammie sipped her juice.
“Is that why Ayden’s here?”
“Yes. The Professor wanted to increase security. Without you, Grisandole will wage a war on the witches and rule the many worlds. This is something we cannot allow. We need to stop her evil from engulfing the universe.”
“This is scary.”
“It should be. Grisandole’s greed and evil ways know no bounds. She’d kill anyone who refused to bow to her wishes.”
“How can one person be so mean?”
“I can’t say, but Grisandole is pure evil.”
“There has to be a way to stop her.”
“There is. Once you have the wand in your possession, you’ll have the power to destroy her.”
“I don’t know if I’m strong enough to find the wand, not to mention, having to fight someone as powerful as Grisandole.” How could she go up against a woman of such magnitude? They were asking too much of her. She wasn’t ready to do this on her own. She was scared.
“I know. By the time you find the wand, you’ll be fully trained and ready to defeat her. I’ll make sure of this.”
“When you talk about worlds, what do you mean?”
“That’s for another time. Finish your homework and then we’ll do some more magic.”
“Okay.” She stood but dropped back onto the cushion. “I wish you’d answer my questions.”
“In time, I will.” Grammie focused her attention toward the window, while Emmy returned to the kitchen.
A chill crawled through Emmy. Something wasn’t right. She didn’t understand this feeling. All she knew was what she sensed. She filed these feelings under paranoia, and forced herself to concentrate on the math book lying on the table.
CHAPTER 33
VORTIGEN
Grisandole paced the floor of the ancient house. The large room gave her some ground to create an angry path across the floor. Back and forth she marched, mumbling inaudible words only she heard and understood. She stopped pacing and looked around the room, her face twisted with anger, and then, she paced again. Grisandole enjoyed the fear she felt flowing from her sisters. She fed off that fear and gained strength.
“Mistress, please sit down.” Bertha was the only person who dared approach Grisandole when her anger neared the boiling point.
“If I wanted to sit, I would. At this moment, I need to pace and think. There must be an easier way to find this child. I’m losing my patience with all of you, and since time is not on our side, we must act now. We will not be able to stay in this mortal world much longer. I need help.”
“We are doing the best we can.”
Grisandole glared. Her dark eyes said more than her words. If they’d been outside she’d cast a spell on them, creating more fear, and she’d feast on that fear.
Bertha shied away from her Mistress’ anger.
“You’ve let me down.”
“In all fairness, we have nothing to go on, and the girl they encountered yesterday may not have been the one we seek.” Bertha tried to still the anger before an explosion occurred.
“Is this meant to placate me?”
“No. I’m trying to put things into perspective. The Coven of Orenda could be sending decoys out to confuse us.”
Grisandole grunted but maintained her silence.
“Mistress, we knew this would be no easy task when we made the decision to come to this world and find the Valittu. At least there’s still time to find her.”
“Hah!”
“Mistress, we will find her.” The hags nodded their assent.
“I’ve heard that before and yet, as I look around, the child isn’t present.” Sarcasm was a great tool. She made the hags shuffle in their seats.
“We’ve been watching the schools but no one has seen the girl,” Gunda said.
“Yes, but you had two opportunities to discover if that girl was the one and you allowed her to slip through your fingers.”
Shame kept the women silent.
“Instead of trying my patience any further, why not come up with a valid idea.” Grisandole continued to pace.
Every time she moved from one side of the room to the next, a low rumbling of thunder flitted across the sky. Grisandole’s anger was unleashing and if that happened, the storm that would ensue could cripple this town.
“We could summon Vortigen’s aid.” One hag suggested fearing Grisandole’s reaction.
But Grisandole surprised everyone in the room with her calm tone. “Of course, Vortigen may succeed, where we have failed. At least one of you is thinking.”
Resia beamed at the praise. Grisandole usually took great ideas given by one of her sisters’ as her own.
Bertha stood and went to Grisandole. “Mistress, you cannot bring him here. This is madness. You know what will happen if we unleash him on this world. The mortals of this town would fall prey to his…appetite.”
“I want that girl.”
“I understand, but we both know what can and will happen if he comes to this mortal world.” Bertha’s brown eyes pleaded, as fear deepened their chocolate color.
“I can contain him.”
“You cannot. We are not strong enough to keep everyone safe. Remember what happened the last time Vortigen was unleashed among mortals. The suffering he imposed. The carnage he created. This isn’t right.”
Grisandole laughed, but Bertha failed to see the humor. Vortigen was pure devastation.
“I want that girl. The Crystal Wand belongs to me. It must be found and the only one who can find the wand is this unidentified girl.”
“True, but to unleash such an evil on this town is nothing short of foolhardy.”
Grisandole drew in her breath at those words.
The hags bristled, but Bertha stood her ground. “Grisandole, summoning Vortigen to this world is a mistake.” She tried another approach. “Mistress, he’ll turn on you. It’s in his nature… in his blood.”
“I told you, I can handle him.”
“And I have nothing but respect for you and your powers, but if Vortigen figures out that we are searching for the Crystal Wand, what makes you think he won’t take the girl, and keep the wand for his own selfish wants.”
“He wouldn’t dare.” Grisandole refused to see the truth. She was driven toward the power of the Crystal Wand, and the Valittu.
“Wouldn’t he?” Bertha cringed at the thought of Vortigen running amok on the streets of Salem. “He’d keep the power for himself, and destroy the mortals he despised. He would enslave this and other covens.”
“I will keep him under control. When I summon him, he’ll be under my rule, which is the law of the underworld.”
“There’s no guarantee he’ll abide by your rules, be they from the underworld or not.”
Grisandole stopped pacing and looked at Bertha’s worried face. A crooked smile gave her the cat that swallowed the canary look. “I’ll guarantee his loyalty to me and only me. You are not my problem.”
Bertha and the other hags drew in their breaths. “You may be the mistress of our coven, but you cannot deliberately place us in danger. The code doesn’t permit this. Please reconsider.”
“Come Ladies, we will prepare to summon the Demon Lord.” She walked past Bertha without a glance.
Bertha looked at her sisters, as they made their way toward their Mistress. The members of Grisandole’s coven feared her decision to bring such evil into an unsuspecting world. But she was their mistress and as such, they followed her blindly down the stairs and into the basement where Dina kept all the special items for the coven’s use.
Candles
lined the many shelves. Colors abounded within the waxy torches. Lining another set of wooden shelves where glass jars filled with herbs, desiccated insects, dirt, blood and other ingredients needed to concoct potions used by the witches.
Grisandole stood next to a large cauldron, hanging from a thick chain built into the solid wooden beams beneath the house. She watched her hags gather all the ingredients necessary to create the proper summoning potion. Precision was essential if they were to bring Vortigen through the veil of death and into the living world.
Grisandole placed the dry ingredients into the pot and expelled a fiery breath to light the wood nestled beneath the cauldron. A roaring fire blazed and warmed the first set of ingredients.
Next, Bertha brought the hangman’s oil and poured three drops into the dry ingredients. A crackle bounced from the bottom as sparks flew upwards, while another hag moved forward with a black candle. She allowed the wax to trickle black rivulets into the mixture.
Another hag stepped forward and allowed the wax from her white candle to drip into the potion.
Smoke spiraled and rose from the cauldron to dance as the ingredients were heated and slowly took form.
“Only one more ingredient must be added to our mixture before we begin our chant.”
Bertha approached her Mistress. In her shaking hand, a red velvet pillow held an ancient sacrificial knife. The long-curved blade held menace while the intricately carved, golden handle depicted centuries of use.
Grisandole took the knife. She held it high and looked at the women encircling the cauldron. They began to chant. A low hum stirred the ingredients as Grisandole stepped forward.
“By my blood, I beg you, Vortigen, Demon Lord, come forth to my aid!” She sliced the knife across the palm of her hand and watched her life’s blood surface and trickle into the potion. One by one, red droplets touched the ingredients, causing the pale smoke to intensify and billow. Rather than the pale grey tuffs held in the air only moments before, a blood red color ran though the smoke turning it a deep crimson. Thicker and thicker the smoke took on a shape.
A lone tear trickled down Bertha’s cheek as she watched the horror unfold. This was the ultimate in bad ideas, but once Grisandole’s mind was made up, there was no turning back. She didn’t know how to prevent this horror from happening.
Emmy and the Coven of Witches Page 18
