HEX

by Stacy Charasidis

  “I’m a friend, Nathalie. One you can trust.”

  “Do red eyes denote the other side?”

  Wayman hesitated before he nodded, “More often than not red is guaranteed bad, but you can’t trust all blue eyes either.”

  “So how did you get here? Why are you here? Why are those two huge guys here?”

  “The leather clad men with the glowing eyes are called dark riders. They’re wild, murderous, lustful beings. If they’re directed to hunt humans, they will. They were called here, like we were.”

  “You and Taline?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you know why?”

  “Balance, maybe, for those two knuckleheads.”

  “What about Nettie?”

  “She’s a special case. You need to speak to Nettie about Nettie.”

  “Okay,” Nathalie nodded and turned away. “Is one of those riders dating Beth?”

  “I don’t think ‘dating’ is the appropriate word. But yes, she has been linked to Venius, and yes, she’s probably in thrall to him at the moment.”

  “He’s the one with the blue eyes or the red ones?” Each rider had a different colour.

  “Blue, his brother Clovis has the red eyes. But he’s bad. Make no mistake.”

  Taline arrived with two necklaces and a sigh of relief. “I was so worried about you two. What happened?”

  “Distractions,” Dean mumbled, putting his arm around Nathalie and pulling her close.

  “I see. You have to be more careful in the future. You could have been killed.” Taline looked upset. “I’ve made you talismans. You need to wear them, along with your other amulet, from this point forward. Never take them off. Ever. Shower with them on. They will make you difficult to see, particularly by large, leather clad boneheads.”

  “Only for us? What about our families?” Dean inquired as they reached for his.

  “Your families are fine. These beings don’t care about them. They’re after you. Nathalie, you’ve already been targeted by Danner. Dean, you’re marked for some reason. Both of you are integral to the success or failure of their bosses’ plans. It’s you they’ll be looking for.”

  “They’re hearts!” Nathalie said, putting hers on. “Oh, my lanterns!” she said with a cry. She had set her bag in the trees before she made her wish.

  “I have them,” Wayman said. “Many of the shopkeepers saw you disappear and pointed me to the spot.”

  “Oh, what was the reaction? Shock? Screaming?” Dean asked with interest.

  “That bunch? Hardly. Not much of a reaction at all,” Wayman said dryly.

  “A wishing eyelash. Wayman, it was incredible!”

  “Mortals and magic…what are these people thinking?” Wayman muttered.

  “It was my eyelash!” Dean said with awe.

  “Even better…” he muttered. “Anyway, don’t do that again. Just because you have access to something unusual right now, like magic,” Wayman emphasized, “doesn’t mean you should use it. You’re untrained and bad things can happen when you take chances, like you did today.”

  “Let’s get you home,” Taline said.

  She walked them through the fairgrounds, which were still teeming with people at this late hour.

  “When do the grounds close? It’s past nine o’clock,” Nathalie asked.

  “Generally around midnight these days. With the excursions and events, they stay open later. People like the magical quality the lights give off after dark.”

  “And Town Circle?”

  “Wild. I don’t recommend you go there in the late evening unless your plan was to get drunk, and…how do you say it? ‘Hook up.’ There is nothing there but sin and despots. Those people are lost and easy prey for the night hunters.”

  “You mean there are more riders?” Dean asked worriedly. “Maybe we should be helping those people.”

  Nathalie nodded, thinking about her friend, Emma.

  “Not more riders, Dean. Humans. Many humans hunt and prey on the weak of their own race. The people that go there…they make their choice every night. They don’t want help. Any sort of police interference has been very negatively received. Like everything else, this part has to play itself out.”

  “Taline, can you explain the new amulets—the seeing part?” Nathalie asked.

  “The hearts will push away the attention of any supernatural being with evil intent. Don’t attract attention and they’ll leave you alone.”

  “Kind of like Luke’s amulet,” Dean said.

  “Yes,” Taline confirmed.

  They dropped Nathalie off first. Taline allowed them a few minutes to give each other soft kisses before ordering Dean to get going. “I have my own man to kiss, you know. I’m not a teenage babysitter,” she said firmly, but they could hear the humour in her voice. Dean bolted when Mr. Parker opened the front door.

  “Bye!” he yelled as he and Taline walked off.

  “Where have you been, young lady? Your mother and I were worried! Not even a phone call!”

  Dean laughed as he heard Mr. Parker’s loud voice booming at Nathalie before he shut their front door.

  “Are you going to get in trouble?” Taline asked archly.

  “Nah, my parents don’t worry if I’m home before midnight.”

  Taline left Dean at home and headed back to the fair. Like everyone else in town, she was touched by the amorous emotions, and she meant to take full advantage and enjoy it. She wasn’t lying when she said she had her own romantic plans, and she couldn’t wait.

  The Kellar Residence

  At the Kellar’s, Willow had made a reappearance. “I’m only here briefly, Liora. Tell me how our plans are progressing.”

  “The demon’s witch has defiled the church grounds. The town is in an uproar and blame Sadie for all that is happening.”

  “Good, good. How are the townsfolk?”

  “Out of control.”

  “And Sadie? Not much struggle tonight.”

  “She’s sad. The Barrington boy dumped her. She’s better off without the idiot.”

  Willow was silent for a moment. “When was this?”

  “Last week or so. She won’t talk much about it. Just says they’ve had a falling out. Ashamed of the scandal and the slander in the paper was the excuse. He’s worried about the Barrington name.”

  Willow was still and looked disappointed for a brief second before her face tightened and filled with hate. “Really! Worried about his name, is he. That I even thought for a second he was different. He should be so lucky to have her!” she hissed. “Well, no matter. We’ll just see about young Mr. Barrington. A small visit…a little torture…let’s see what damage I can do. Good work, Liora. Soon we’ll both have our rewards.”

  The Parker Residence

  After escaping her father and locking herself in her room, Nathalie picked up the journal Rain had sent her from Superstition and lay on her bed to have a look at it. It was very worn. The book’s cover had a blue flowered wallpaper print, and the faded gold lettering on the front said simply “Book of Record.” What an interesting design for an official book, she thought. She turned it over, but there was nothing on the back. The inside page had scrawled handwriting stating the town’s name of Barrington County and “as Writ and Recorded by the County Scribe, Dame Nettie Parquhar.”

  My ancestor, Nathalie thought with wonder, who is here helping at a bake table at the fair, she thought in amazement. Will wonders ever cease?

  The writing was faded and mostly legible, but some of the words were very hard to decipher. She started reading about the day-to-day activities as witnessed by the town scribe. While it was interesting, she didn’t linger on the regular stuff. That would have to wait for later. Nathalie searched until she found the official record of the Kellar trial and execution. Nettie’s description of Willow’s death brought tears to Nathalie’s eyes, but what shocked her more was what came afterwards.

  Barrington County

  Thursday, September 26


  Dear Rain,

  I need a favour. It’s a big one.

  I need you to go to the Barrington graveyard in Limerick’s cemetery and tell me everything you see and everything that happens there. EVERYTHING.

  Sorry, I’ll explain later. Call me from Limerick. Don’t go alone. Make sure Gabe goes with you.

  Love you,

  Nathalie

  Friday, September 27

  The Friday edition of the newspaper published “basic” safety rules at night for the expanded populace due to the festival. Broadsheets regarding appropriate public behaviour were printed and inserted into the daily paper and posted around town.

  THE BARRINGTON BUGLE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

  Be Smart! Be Safe!

  By Patrick O’Callaghan

  The festival is an exciting time for Barrington. Business is booming and the festivities make the town THE place to be. However, not all visitors to our town have the same idea of fun.

  A string of strange and violent acts have been plaguing the festival. For your own safety, and that of your family, the Sheriff suggests you follow these simple rules:

  Do not walk alone at night. Stay in groups, particularly women.

  Stay on the lighted streets and pathways. Do not go into Barrington Forest or Town Circle Park after dark.

  Carry some protective spray in your purse. Smith’s hardware has just received a new shipment of MACE, at the Sheriff’s request.

  Kids and teens should be kept at home after nine o’clock.

  Right now the Sheriff recommends all residents remain at home after eleven o’clock.

  To all the men out there who left their balls in their wife’s purse, like the Sheriff did, follow the rules!

  BARRINGTON BROADSHEET To be posted at all entrances to the Harvest Festival, on all poles around Town Circle and the residential quads, and placed as inserts in all newspapers.

  By order of the Mayor of Barrington, The Hon. John Barrington.

  NOTICE TO ALL DENIZENS OF BARRINGTON

  While visiting the town of Barrington County you are welcome to enjoy the sights, events and amenities of the town.

  Certain behavior is not permitted, and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if you are caught doing any of the following:

  LEWD OR LACIVIOUS ACTS

  DISPLAYS OF NUDITY

  VIOLENCE IN ANY FORM, VERBAL OR PHYSICAL

  VANDELISM, ARSON, OR THEFT

  LOUD AND DISTURBING BEHAVIOUR

  You are welcome to Barrington County, but please respect the other visitors and the residents who live here.

  THE BARRINGTON BUGLE – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

  Letters to the Editor

  Dear Editor:

  What is a “denizen?” An animal? I got mighty insulted reading the Mayor’s broadsheet before my wife gave me the definition and I got me some understanding. What the hell’s wrong with plain English? That’s the stupidest word I ever seen.

  -Denying Dictionaries

  Dear Denying:

  Nice alliteration!

  -Ed

  Friday, September 27

  Barrington School Grounds

  Dean and Luke watched as one of the teachers put up the broadsheets around the school. Dean was worried about his younger siblings, particularly the terrible twin-duo. If they could read, they’d take it as a challenge.

  “Are the little kids going to be taught about strangers?” Dean asked her as she walked by.

  “This very day.” She looked at Dean and smiled at him reassuringly. “Don’t worry. With those twins, it’s the bad guys who should run in the other direction.”

  “Are things that bad?” Dean asked Luke after the teacher continued on her way. He was looking at the broadsheet bleakly.

  “I’m not sure. My dad is clamping down on the spread of information, even to me. There have been a few incidents. Some of them have made it into the paper, like Mr. Green’s death and a few other hunts, but many of them have not been made public knowledge. The Sheriff is trying to control the outflow of information so there’s no wide scale panic, so he’s banned anyone in the station from talking to the press. Otherwise, Heimler would publish everything in his sensationalist way and happily freak out the town to sell papers. Just enough goes into the newspaper to keep people on their toes.” Luke’s anger at Heimler and the anonymous letter writer was still simmering.

  “Yeah, I noticed that the ‘Sheriff’s Showdown’ section hadn’t grown. Maybe the Sheriff is getting back at Heimler for allowing O’Callaghan to write about his balls,” Dean snickered.

  “There’s that too…” Luke trailed off and watched as Sadie walked by. The expression on his face was anguished. Sadie didn’t even glance in his direction, but as she turned to go into her classroom, a folded paper fell out of her stack of books. Before Dean could blink, Luke dived for it.

  “Getting a little desperate, aren’t you?” Dean asked with sympathy. “Have some pride, dude.”

  “When you get used to kissing someone every day, it’s hard to stop, Dean. Especially when you’re in love with them. She’s like a drug. Imagine if you couldn’t touch Nathalie,” Luke explained, putting the paper to his nose and smelling it.

  Dean thought of their time in the woods. “Yeah, I can’t fathom it. I am sorry man. Must be tough.”

  “Only another month,” Luke said grimly, unfolding the paper. “Oh…it’s a spell.”

  “A spell? Really? What about?” Dean said curiously, trying to glance at the paper.

  “It’s a mass spell…”

  “A what? For church?”

  “No, for a mass of people. It’s to protect Barrington residents in their homes.”

  Dean froze. “Why would we need to do that?” he asked, fear flooding him. Where was Nathalie?

  “This may have to do with a home invasion that happened a few days ago. It was kept out of the paper, but I overheard the Sheriff telling my dad. No one was hurt, but the jerks trashed the place and scared the family witless. Drunks. It wasn’t reported in the newspaper because the family didn’t want to draw any more unwanted attention. Fear of retaliation.”

  “That’s an interesting tactic. Fear will keep half the population locked down in their homes, while immoral distractions take care of the other half. I think we’re in deep trouble,” Dean said gloomily.

  “Sadie’s warning us. She knows something, and things are going to get ugly. She wants us to cast this. The hex is escalating and so is the crazy and reckless behaviour.”

  “I’m in. So, what do we need to do?” Dean asked firmly.

  “Sprinkle holy water on the houses, that’s to keep out the unholy…like Willow or Danner. Then we need items imbued with a rejection spell so the ‘unwanted’ can’t enter, like strangers. It’s like an all-purpose protective shield.” Luke frowned. “The only problem is that Sadie is the only witch I know.”

  Dean smiled smugly. “You need a witch? I think I know the perfect person.”

  The Croft Residence

  After school, Dean brought the boys home and found his sister lying in her room with her best friend Max beside her.

  “How did you two get home so fast?” Dean asked suspiciously, as a joke. “And what are you two doing in here?”

  Max sat up and frowned, pushing his glasses up his nose. “We’re reading. Why?”

  That boy is so clueless, Dean thought to himself.

  Ella sat up and smiled fondly at her best friend before scowling at her older brother. “What do you want, Dean?”

  “I need to cast a spell.”

  “So? Is that my problem?” she said disinterestedly, twirling her long hair.

  Dean stared at her silently.

  Ella raised her eyebrows. “Are you asking me?” Her eyes shone with interest.

  “Well DUH, and I know you can do it. Don’t even bother to deny it,” Dean said accusingly.

  She didn’t. “I wasn’t going to. Fine. What do you need?”

  “A
protection spell for the homes in Barrington.”

  “All the homes? Why do we need that?” Ella asked in surprise.

  Max answered. “Because things are going to Hell in town.”

  “Something like that,” Dean hedged. He didn’t want to scare his sister, but Max seemed to be somewhat aware…which meant Ella was too.

  “A mass spell should be fairly easy for you, Ella,” Max said confidently, patting her on the back, admiration lacing his tones.

  Hoo boy, Dean thought, looking at Max’s expression of adoration. “So how is it you two know so much about all this stuff, anyway?”

  “We read, Dean,” Max said impatiently.

  “Yeah. We had a few false starts…” Ella said.

  “Yes, we took out Spells for the Modern Witch, which turned out to be a total sham!” Max said with outrage. “We wasted a lot of material on her bogus spells.”

  “We even wrote Suzie Smaker and told her that her book was a load of crap,” Ella said with scorn.

  “But we didn’t mail it,” added Max.

  “True, but writing the letter was fun!” she said. “Cathartic.”

  “I couldn’t put it better,” he added. “The worst, though, was Herblore for Today’s Naturalist,” Max said laughing.

  “Oh yeah!” Ella snorted, slapping his knee. “It was a cookbook!” They both giggled at their private joke.

  “Hello…” Dean said in amazement, breaking up their two-man show. “Earth to Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dummer! Got a serious problem here.”

  “Sorry,” Ella said. “When we noticed all this strange stuff start happening, we decided to protect ourselves.”

  “Never know, with the history in this town,” Max added.

  Dean handed the spell to Ella who glanced at it and handed it to Max.

  “Very good spell,” he said thoughtfully. “The concept is sound. It uses common, available things and is simple but effective. May I ask the name of the witch who provided it?”

  “Sadie Kellar.”

  Max nodded approvingly. He didn’t blink an eye.

  “So when do you want to do it?” Ella asked.

  “Is tomorrow too soon?”

  “Nope, just get the stuff.” Max outlined what they’d need.