“Well…”
“Please!” Excitement raced through her, as she thought of the graduation dance. She had to go. “If I can go, I’ll do whatever you say. I won’t fight you on anything, even if we leave Salem.
Grammie glanced at Ayden who nodded his head in assent. She sighed heavily, but decided to give her granddaughter her consent. “Very well, but Ayden, I expect you to watch out for her.”
“On my honor, I will keep her safe.”
“Then you have my blessing to attend your graduation. I fear this may be the only mortal celebration, you will attend.”
“Thank you.” Emmy went to her grandmother and hugged her tightly.
CHAPTER 42
GRISANDOLE AND BERTHA
Vortigen paced the length of the living room like a caged animal. He felt suffocated, trapped within the walls of the house, and the glamour Grisandole forced him to wear. His rage was bottled up inside and as he moved, he felt the need to unleash it. He continued to pace. A growl gurgled deep inside of him.
“Settle down. You don’t have long to wait, and then you will have free reign on those who’ve wronged us.”
Vortigen roared his angst. “I need more than promises.”
“You’ll contain yourself until the moment is right.”
“You know what I am. There are some things even I cannot control.” His forked tongue came out of his mouth and he felt the need to taste blood.
“Bertha, we have a few errands to attend to!” She called her sisters.
One by one, they filed into the room. Grisandole walked toward them. “Keep him indoors. No matter what, do not allow him to leave this house.”
“Yes Mistress,” they said in unison, but the fear they felt was real. They looked at Grisandole for aid and then, at Bertha who smiled reassuringly and left the room.
“Mistress,” Bertha began. “How can they keep a creature such as Vortigen indoors? This is no easy task. This demon could tear them to shreds, and no one could stop him. You cannot ask this of our coven.”
“I don’t care.” Grisandole saw the fear on their faces. She walked up to her hags and ground out. “Make sure you don’t let him out. If anything happens, I will hold you responsible.” Grisandole informed her sisters, and with Bertha in tow, she left the house.
Once they were far enough away, she turned to Bertha. “We need that girl. I don’t know how much longer I can deny Vortigen a fresh meal. He will grow more and more obsessed with blood and his hunger will not be satiated with a platter of meat.”
“Perhaps we should cut our losses and return him to the underworld. There is no hope if we cannot control him.”
“Never!”
“Grisandole, you must do something. He’s reaching uncontrollable levels. Before long, he’ll kill our sisters. You also understand the bloodlust he harbors and feeds on.”
“As soon as we discover the girl’s location, he’ll be unleashed, and then he will become this world’s problem and not ours.”
A sour taste filled Bertha’s mouth. “If you unleash him, we will lose all control over him. This world will be in peril.”
“That is not my problem.”
“Of course, it is.”
“No, it isn’t. We will have left this world and returned to our own.” Her pace quickened, as they made their way toward some undisclosed destination.
“You cannot allow this to come to pass.” Bertha tried to reason with Grisandole.
“I will not allow anyone to dictate to me. You had best remember who I am.”
Bertha ignored her. “The Council of Witches could find us guilty of the destruction of this world. We could be imprisoned or worse.”
“Only if someone tells them what we’ve done here, and I won’t divulge our part in this scenario. What about you?”
Bertha stared at the woman. “I swore an oath to you, and I will not go back on my word, but I want you to keep that demon under control.
“Very well,” Grisandole sighed.
“Thank you, Mistress.”
She glared at her longtime friend. One thing she learned early on in life, never alienate those closest to you.
“So where are we going?”
“To the school.”
“It’s closed.”
“I’m aware of that. I intend to enter the office and look through the files. We know the child is being raised by her grandmother and even though we don’t know who she is, the files should tell us something.”
Grisandole and Bertha became spirits and entered the school. They floated toward the office and went through the door. Once inside, they took solid form, and opened the drawers of the filing cabinets.
“Maybe we should try to turn the computer on. It might be easier and quicker.”
“The girl’s guardian wouldn’t be foolish enough to put her name or the child’s name on a machine easily accessed by anyone. No, if there is a record, we’ll find it somewhere in this office. Keep searching.”
Grisandole looked through the files. She checked each folder but it appears all student records were safely stored on these odd machines. Bertha mentioned this, but neither one of them knew how to access one of these mortal contraptions. They’ve only seen Dina and her family use them.
“There’s nothing here.” Grisandole’s patience wore thin.
Bertha opened the drawers of the desk hoping to find something that might give them a hint as to where the Valittu lived. “There’s nothing here, either. I don’t think we’ll find anything that will lead us to her. She pulled out a colorful flyer and read it. “Mistress, look at this.”
“What is it?” She took the sheet of paper from Bertha’s outstretched hand. “And what am I looking at.”
“This flyer shows the school will be holding a graduation.”
“Yes, yes, I know.” Grisandole didn’t have time to play games.
“Yes, but now we have a date, and the girl we seek will be in that group.”
“We will find her on this night?”
“Yes. If she attends this graduation.”
Grisandole laughed with excitement. “At last we will have her, and the wand will be mine. Let us leave and prepare for this occasion.”
“Yes Mistress.”
CHAPTER 43
AN APPOINTMENT
Emmy couldn’t believe graduation day was finally here. She could barely contain her enthusiasm. She and Sarah made up and were going downtown to have their hair, make-up and nails done at one of the best salons in Salem. Her happiness at being able to attend the graduation tonight with all her friends, was overwhelming.
She walked into the kitchen as Grammie prepared lunch. She poured herself some juice and tried to gulp it down.
“I want you to eat your lunch first.”
“I’m not hungry, Grammie.”
“Emmy, you’re not leaving this house until you’ve had something to eat.
Dejected, she went to the table and sat down. The last thing she wanted was food… the excitement of the day took her appetite away.
A moment later the doorbell rang and Sarah walked in. “Hey! Ready to go?” She burst into the kitchen, as excited as Emmy.
“Did you eat?” Grammie snuck behind Sarah.
“Who can eat?” Sarah sat down when Grammie pulled out a chair.
“No one leaves this house until lunch is consumed.” She stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips.
“Yes Grammie,” they said in unison and nibbled the sandwiches and salad. “Once you’ve finished, you may leave.”
“Yes Grammie.” The girls giggled.
“It’s so cool that you’re going to the grad party,” Sarah said in between bites.
“I wasn’t sure Grammie would let me go, but she said yes and now I’m stoked.”
“Is there any cha
nce of meeting this mystery date, before tonight?”
“Nope.”
“Fine. Keep your little secrets.” Sarah pretended to be upset with her friend, but a smile curved her lips. “I let it slip that you have a date. I think Danny’s jealous.
“Serves him right.”
They giggled.
“There’s something else.”
“What?” Skepticism flowed from Emmy.
Danny and Debbie are at our table tonight. I didn’t know how to tell you that.”
She thought about it. “That’s okay. I don’t care.” When she saw the look on her friend’s face, she laughed. “Really.”
“Good. I was worried you’d want to sit somewhere else.”
“Nope. I’m good.” Emmy wasn’t worried. Once they met Ayden, Danny will be the one with the issue. “Finish your lunch so we can get out of here.”
The girls left the house waving to Grammie who worried her thumbnail. She watched Ayden walk behind them, and went back inside to call Malka.
Emmy told Grammie she didn’t want Ayden to see her until that evening when he picked her up. At first Grammie refused, but Malka and two sisters from the coven took it upon themselves to make their own appointments, allowing them to secretly protect Emmy.
Emmy walked next to Sarah, but her eyes traveled behind, trying to catch a glimpse of Ayden. She gave him a subtle wink.
He waved, knowing only she could see him.
“Are you listening to me?” Sarah chided her friend, but looked back to see what had caught her friend’s attention.
“Sorry. What did you say?”
“Where are you?”
“Just thinking.”
“About that guy?” Sarah smiled.
“No. Well, maybe a little.”
“He must be hot. I can’t wait to meet him.”
“I think you’ll like him.”
“No doubt. What will you do with your hair?”
“I don’t know. How about you?”
“I know I want it up, but I thought I’d look through some magazines in case I see something I like better.”
“Good idea. I think I’ll do the same thing.”
“I want something totally outstanding. I want Robert to fall off his seat when he sees me.”
“You think?” Emmy laughed, knowing she wanted the same thing. She wanted to shock Ayden. It would be great to make him look at her as a girl and not just an assignment. “You’re going to be gorgeous. He won’t stand a chance.”
They arrived at the salon and Emmy instantly spotted Mistress Malka standing next to two women. She wondered who the other sisters were, but obviously Malka trusted them.
Sarah held the door for Emmy. They went inside and gave their names and appointment times. “This is so awesome.”
“I know. I’m so excited.” Emmy watched Malka enter the large shop with the two women. At least she felt safe. This appointment should be uneventful except for the transformation of the two girls.
“Emmy, Sarah, this way please.”
The girls followed the young woman with the pink stains in her otherwise black hair, to the back. “Have you decided what you want done?” The stylist asked, as she approached the young girls.
“Not really. It’s our graduation and we want to look good.”
“Actually,” Sarah interjected. “I’d like an up-do of sorts. We have to look exquisite.”
The stylist laughed. “All right.” She motioned for two apprentices to come forward and take them to the chairs.
They sat next to each other as the hairstylists began their transformation. Their hair was done with precision, and then, the cosmetologists, who decided their makeup would be light and fresh to enhance their natural glow. French manicures graced their slender nails and a few hours later, they were ready to show off their makeovers.
“You both look beautiful,” Malka said, as the girls went to pay at the front of the shop.
“Thank you,” Emmy responded politely, not wanting to let on she knew Malka. The girls left the salon and made their way home.
At the corner, Sarah turned to Emmy. “See you tonight.”
“I’ll be there. You’re stunning.”
“Thanks Emmy. So are you.” With a quick hug, Sarah walked down the street while Emmy went home.
Malka stopped and watched the girls. She didn’t want to let on where Emmy lived, and so she stood there and simply watched the girls. “She’s safe. We can leave,” she told her sisters.
“Shouldn’t we see her home?” Mara asked, trying to see beyond Malka’s tall form.
“No. There’s someone else who will see her home.”
Mara stared hard at Malka. “She doesn’t live on this street.”
Malka looked at her. “Why?”
“I wanted to know where she lives,” Mara stammered.
“Why?”
She nervously shuffled her feet, at the questions being thrown by Malka. “Mistress, have I offended you in some way, if so, please accept my apology.”
“What do you think?”
“I… I don’t know.” Mara couldn’t meet Malka’s intense stare. She tried to move away.
“Where are you going?”
“Home. I seem to be saying all the wrong things, so if you’ll excuse me.”
“Of course.” Malka stood still, all the while watching Mara’s departure with wonder. “What are you up to?” She said to herself.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Talisha, the other sister asked her Mistress.
“I believe I am.”
They stayed at a distance, but kept the lone figure in sight. They watched her turn down one street and then another. Mara stopped and looked back, but Malka and Talisha hid behind a century old tree. The minutes ticked by before being able to creep around the tree and continue to follow Mara.
“Something’s not right. She’s not going home.”
“Where is she going?”
“I’m not sure, but stay alert. I sense danger.”
The young witch must be the leak in their coven. They hid between two houses and watched. They had to find out what this girl was up to. This wasn’t Mara’s house. Why would she lie to her mistress and tell her that she would be going home?
Mara knocked on the door of a rather large house. A woman of around thirty something answered the door. The two women watched the young witch step inside.
“What’s going on?” Talisha asked Malka who stood rooted to one spot.
“We are being betrayed.”
“She’s the spy?”
“I’m afraid so, and she knows the general area where Emmy lives.
“We must warn her guardian.”
“I’m afraid you won’t be warning anyone.” A raspy voice behind them stated.
Malka and Talisha turned and found themselves in front of their nemesis. Before anyone could react, Grisandole and Bertha used their wands to stun the two women. They fell to the ground amid Grisandole’s evil laughter and then, the darkness engulfed them.
CHAPTER 44
GRADUATION
Emmy looked around, happy Ayden wasn’t at his post. She wondered how he’d react to her transformation. She hoped he’d be surprised at how grown up she looked. “Grammie, I’m home!”
“Emmy, you’re beautiful. You look like your mother.” Tears welled in her eyes, as she stared at her granddaughter.
Part of Emmy’s hair was piled atop her head, while the rest of her hair flowed down her back in curls. Rhinestone clips were woven into her hair creating a mass of stars that glittered in the light. Her make-up although pale brought out her delicate features.
“I do? Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Thanks, Grammie. I feel different.”
“You
look so much older and very elegant.”
Pride shone on Emmy’s face.
“Did Mistress Malka see you home? I thought she’d come inside for a visit.”
“No. She stopped at the corner and went the other way.”
“What? Was she alone?”
“No. There were two ladies with her.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, why Grammie?”
“That would explain why Malka didn’t see you all the way home.”
“No one knows where we are, right?”
“We should be safe… for now.”
Emmy noticed the frown on Grammie’s features. “Something’s not right. I can feel it.”
“There’s nothing wrong, Emmy. I want you to believe me. If you don’t, Ayden will undoubtedly show up on our doorstep.”
“I didn’t think of that.”
“Make sure you have something to eat before you go to the dance.”
Emmy laughed. “Grammie, there’s going to be a buffet at school.”
“I know, but it’s still a few hours away. There’s some fruit on the table.”
Emmy knew better than to argue. So much was going on, and she had trouble keeping up. She sat down and bit into an apple, realizing she was hungry.
By late afternoon, Emmy was upstairs touching up her make-up and hair. She wanted to try a little magic but feared she’d dishevel her hairstyle. That would break her heart.
She went to her closet and removed the long garment bag and the box containing her shoes and matching clutch. She laid them on the bed, went to the dresser and removed a velvet box. She opened it, and nestled within the blue velvet was a pearl necklace and matching earrings, a gift from Grammie.
Emmy returned to the bed and unzipped the cloth garment bag. She took out her dress and stared at it. This evening will be the highlight of junior high. She stepped into her dress and looked at herself in the mirror. Emmy tucked her phoenix into the bodice of her dress and then turned one way and the other. She noticed the eagle perched on her arm. “You can’t be seen tonight,” she told her guide.
Emmy and the Coven of Witches Page 24
