by J Middleton
Victoria listened as he followed her to the kitchen.
Her mind went back to when she was a child. Lilly would come to her in dreams draining her good spirit. She had a way of manipulating your mind. She thought for a moment to the first time the caught her and sent her away.
“That’s it? He weak spot is love, but is her love for Vince and I enough. Are is her heart so hard that she just wants us to turn us to evil. Questions filled her head but she had no answers.
Standing there listening to Jessica talk about how Lilly can possess you mind frighten her. She knew her power and how she could turn anyone to her side.
“You ready.” Glenda said.
“What? Ready for what.”
“You must not have been listen Victoria. We must go get some help. We are running out of time.”
Glenda was right Victoria didn’t hear a word she had said.
Chapter 10
Lilly took a moment to breathe in the candle scent drifting through the air. She had convert the second room into a voodoo tabernacle. Its décor mirrored her devotion to the dark side of her faith. Black candles glowed from every corner, casting a flickering light on her human skull, and bones she used in her practice. Next to it stood a large, iron cage used for more sacrifices. A snake wriggled out of her hand slithering peacefully between her feet and across the floor. The room plunged into darkness in an instant the candles bloomed back to life. Grabbing a small iron pot off a low shelf she sat it down. Pouring sea salt inside to form a circle around her. Then, summoning every bit of her strength, as the room fell into darkness again. When the candles flared back to life she saw this silhouetted figure standing in the doorway. He studied her silently and then took a long breath.
He took a step forward then stopped as if he’d hit a wall.
“You can’t enter the circle I have drawn.” Lilly said.
“A magic circle, I cannot enter but you cannot leave either. The figure responded.
“I may not be able to, but my trusty servants can. The dead is my children I can raise them, it’s only the living that nauseates me.”
“Is that so?” it giggled.
“You find humor in my words?” She yells.
“Humor no. You have forgotten that all spirts fear me not you and they are not going to risk angering me to help you with some quest. Isn’t that what you summoned me here for? You want something from me.” Rage and anger ran though him like a venomous snake ready to strike.
Her eyes turned deep red as she shot a ball of fire and hit the wall beside him.
“Do not tempt me demon!” She went to cast another. He laughed and moved his arm forward. Lilly casted another ball of fire. The figure grabbed the orb turning the flames black as coal.
“You are wasting your time.” he barely moved his wrist, as the dust from the flames sprinkled to the floor. He held up his hand and the force within him shoved her across the room. Hitting hard against the wall. Falling to the floor she was furious. Looking up with rage running though her. Pulling herself up she stood there with her red narrow eyes.
“For thousands of years I have been waiting” He stepped forward. “And now you destroyed my peace and my slumber.” His red eyes gleamed at her dark aged body. At that moment Lilly’s red eyes locked his.
He reached out for her but the protective circle stopped his skeletal fingers.
“You have defied me!” I am the queen of darkness, I control all. I dare you fight with me. I will destroy you.” She yells.
“You? Ha, don’t play your games with me. You are merely a child wanting a toy that was taken away from you. You could never destroy me. You will never be strong enough for that.”
Lilly furious and erupted flames around her.
“Do not call me a child!” She yells as she puts her hands in front of her and started to form an even larger orb of flames. Throwing the orb at him, and follows up with several more orbs in a rapid succession. The orbs rush toward the figure and suddenly disappear.
“Fourteen years. And what? You learned to play with fire? Is that all they taught you in the darkness. You are weak and stupid.” His voice loud and sharp.
She screams, as the wood peels from the wall and her vines push through slowly towards him. Stopping a few feet from his body, mangling together as they crawl taller trying to surround the figure. Instantly the vines turned into ash.
Giggling as he nods his head in disgrace. He stepped over the line of salt as he inched closer to her.
“Haven’t you learned anything. Your powers are useless against me.” Furious he moved a little closer. “What do you want? SPEAK! Before I turn you to ash.” His eyes piercing though her almost burning her leathery skin.
Lilly backs up a few steps realizing that this figure is stronger than she thought, that her powers can’t not penetrate it.
“What are you?”
The figure laughs.
“Something you don’t need to mess with dark one.”
She narrowed her eyes, wondering who are what he was.
“I control all, why can’t I control you?”
“Because you are not the strong one, your powers are nothing compared to mine.”
She watched as the dark shadows crawled back into the wall.
“I call upon you to assist me!” She yells. Nothing moved. “Come fourth I demand you!” Her voice louder.
Giggling, “I told you dark spirits all fear me the living and the dead. YOU CONTROL NOTHING!” Yelling so loud it rattled the room. “I will not assist you in your quest I have better things to do with my time then to play with dark shadows.”
It took a moment for her to process what he had just said.
“No one tells me NO! How dare it? How could I not be the powerful one? Who is this being? Where did it come from? What does it want?” Questions filled her thoughts.
“Don’t get in my way? I will destroy you.”
“Ha, I think not. A warning to you, leave me out of you quest, are I will return you to the pits of hell from where you have come.”
Before she could speak he disappeared.
Lilly rushed to the window and there was no sign of the figure anywhere. The only movement was the fog rolling down the streets crawling up the sides of the buildings.
“I have control.” She yells, as the fog disappeared and still no sign of him.
“Come to me my servants! NOW!” she screams.
A sudden burst of wind tore through the streets, forcing her door to slam against the wall.
Lilly moved away from the window and stood by her fireplace. She struck a fire, using flint and a small piece of kindling.
“I dare him,” she mumbled staring off into the orange flames.
The room glowed making shadows dance and flicker on her face.
“Yes my children dance, but if you ever defied me again I will condemn your souls to hell and you will never walk the earth again.”
The spirits that witches had wronged for some many years was finally getting the chance to take their vengeance. Lilly closed her eyes and uttered a spell, cursing the city and any who ever tried to inhabit it. She grinned, and walked by her raging fire, not even flinching as she began to burn. Her flesh shearing away from bone as she stood there staring into the flames. The air smelled of burnt flesh as she moved away from the fire, with a smoke coming off her body. Sitting down in her chair she had perfect view of her window. Staring at a few people that walked up and down the side walk making shadows as they pass by.
“You stupid fools soon it will only be my servants that will walk these streets.” She smiled knowing this war would be the end of all wars and she would get her daughter and son at any cost.
Chapter 11
“Come we have to go see someone.”
“Who?” Victoria asks.
“She is one of the higher witches, she can help find out who is in the stone building.”
“You think it is safe?”
“It’s only a few buildings down.” G
lenda told her.
“We need to hurry before dark.” Glenda grabbed Victoria’s arm as they headed out the door.
The cloudy sky stared down at them with contempt as cool damp wind slithered over their skin. The clouds turned even darker and the was interrupted by stillness before another gust of wind hit their bodies. Leaves were blowing against the ground as a distance fog was rolling in.
Victoria looked over at a building. There were no lights on, it looked like an abandoned shell. It was more than a little unsettling considering what was in store. Every building and shop she passed was the same way, it was if they were walking through a ghost town. Chill ran down her arm the further they walked. She was suddenly acutely aware of something watching her. Straining her ears, and almost simultaneously realized just what was wrong. Other than the wind, there was complete silence. The atmosphere had taken on a decidedly dark, sterile tone. It threatened to overwhelm her and send her running. The wind hit her again, flapping her long cape against her legs in a series of persistent taps.
The air was charged with static, and the earth shook as the few trees dragged themselves closer, their limbs slithering and swaying, resembling long-fingers stretching out for her.
They hurried down a block until she finally stopped.
The area surrounding the building was covered with weathered wooden posts decorated in a collection of strange art objects. She heard the soft ripple of wind chimes but when she followed the musical sound she was the chimes were made of bones. Animal skulls topped the posts, staring down at her with empty eye sockets. She peeked in the window and in the center of the room there was a fire with an ancient black pot suspended over it. The bowl was large enough to boil two people at the same time. She wanted to run but she was certain the answers she sought would be fought there. She crept to the front door and saw that it was cracked.
“Hello?” Victoria spoke. There was no answer, but she could hear heavy, asthmatic breathing coming from inside.
The breathing grew louder and more erratic. Victoria picked up the largest candle, holding it up to cage. When she did, the breathing shifted to a guttural snarl. She froze, she looked to see a small cage shaking violently. Glenda moved closer to see a human inside. It was completely still. Then its eyes suddenly stared back at her. She jumped back, resisting the urge to run. Leaning closer, gaping in disbelief as its head moved, its mouth contorting in a snarl.
Victoria heart raced, and her skin prickled as if on fire. This was more than strange. Then she heard music coming from outside. The lyrical voice didn’t sound peaceful. Glenda powers produced an orange and red orb holding it in both hands as she crept toward the doorway. Holding this ball gave her a measure of control, suppressing the panic flooding though her mind.
They stepped outside one after another just as a woman with dark skin rounded the corner. Her brown eyes were wide and childlike. Victoria wasn’t letting those doe eyes sway her. This woman was headed right towards them.
The woman smiled congenially.
“Can I help you?” a voice coming from the woman.
Glenda spun around as she heard footsteps behind her. There was nothing there.
“Please come in you are safe here. As a Voodoo priestess, I don’t believe in violence and therefore have no weapons, so you can control your orb.” The old woman said.” What can I do for you?” grinning with hardly any teeth.
Glenda made her orb disappear but was cenacle about her.
“If you don’t believe in violence why do you have someone in a cage.” Victoria asks.
“He is of darkness. I chopped off his head and then had no further use for his body,” she answered calmly as she went into the chapel.
Glenda shocked at her words, watching her warily.
The old woman walked directly to the cage.
“Hand me that tube, please?”
Victoria picked up a short piece of clay pipe and handed it to her. She slid the tube through the bars, forcing it into the mouth. She then poured the contents of the ceramic bowl down the pipe.
“What is the purpose of that?” Glenda asks.
“So his soul will not rise.” She answered.
Glenda looked bewildered as she remembered that this spell was in the book of black magic that was stolen from the council.
“Your mother practices black magic?” The old woman turned and looked at Victoria.
Her eyes lit up in shock, “How does this woman know about my mother?” She thought.
The woman stared at her for a moment. Victoria felt like she could reach inside her soul.
“For generations out family was charged with preventing the book’s use by keeping it hidden but many years ago my accessor was killed and it was stolen. When the book resurfaced, it was put in the archives, but has been stolen again.”
Glenda thought for a moment. “Wouldn’t it have been earlier to burn the book instead of hiding it? That way no one could practice it.”
“Do you think we never thought of that?” she smiled as she read her mind. “Dear if the book was burnt it would only reappear somewhere else. That is part of its power. So, whoever has it must know it is very dangerous.”
Glenda knew right then that the woman knew they possessed the book.
Victoria cautiously eyed the cornucopia of potions and herbs as she sat it down in a cup.
“What is this made of?”
“It’s made of tea, “The woman said, holding up a distinctive yellow cardboard box. Humming to herself she poured steaming hot water over the two bags.
“Here try some!” she laughed.
“No thank you.” Glenda said.
Feeling more at ease the old woman walked to the grand altar admiring the statues and the old pictures that were hanging.
“This is the voodoo spirt Lola. She was a godly creature and had a distinct place in our lives.” She said.
“If Voodoo was peaceful why are there so many images of death?” Victoria asks.
“Voodoo was a religion.” The woman said, pouring her tea in a mug. “Some people did not fear death because to them it was the only release from a lifetime of suffering.”
Victoria eyes fell on a photo on the wall. It was a faded picture of Anna.
“Why is there a picture of Anna on your wall?” she said as she turned to face her.
“Because she was white magic, the good in this city. Her heart was pure.” She took a sip of her tea. “I was sad to her of her death. Her spirit lives on in you dear.” As her big brown eyes looked up at her.
Thunder boomed so loud that it vibrated the building and rattled the cup she was holding in her hand. Suddenly, her door burst open, letting in a torrent of windblown rain. Flashes of lightning split the sky open.
Glenda ran toward the door but stopped suddenly, when she saw a silhouette by the threshold. The dirty dark figure staggered a few steps. Glenda picked up a large candle and cautiously approached. With a blink of an eye it disappeared.
“What was that?” Victoria asks.
“The dark spirits. Something has summons them. I think you know who, don’t you?”
“Oh yes,” Glenda said, “She has a lot of dark spirits working for her even the one in the stone house.
The old woman narrowed her eyes. “That knew building.”
“Yes” Victoria answered.
“No, he is not of her.” The old woman turned dropping some power in her over large pot.
“How do you know that?” Glenda asks.
“Because I would feel its energy and he wasn’t summons.” She constantly stirring the powder with a wooden spoon.
The old woman stopped for a moment. She could sense something in the air.
“The book of black magic is close I can feel it.”
“How?”
“The book exudes its own energy, heightening the powers of any Voodoo priestess near it. It wants to do is corrupt them, drawing them into dark world. That is why we kept it hid from others so they wouldn’t be tempted to i
ts evil it possessed.”
The old woman jumped back as a burst of hot fire and smoke rolled out of the pot.
“Look here in the flames.” She pointed.
Victoria and Glenda moved closer as they saw Lilly with her huge army of dark entities. They were at the beginning of the city waiting to march. Victoria backed up as she seen a clear picture of her face, old and wrinkled and deeply scared.
“How will we defeat her this time? We use her love for my father the first time, and our powers the next.”
“Use all your resources pull all them into one. She had gained more energy now. She had a long time to absorb the souls of the dead, don’t let her know you have the book” The woman said.
Glenda froze.
“How do you know?”
“I know,” she smiles. “Bring it to me after the war and don’t let no one know that you have got it.”
Glenda nods her head before and pauses for a moment.
“Can you help us defeat her?”
“No, I can’t interfere. I can tell you this she can be defeated.”
Victoria turned toward the doorway as the sun was going down.
“You have to go. It will be dark soon.”
A bolt of lightning shot from the sky, exploding in front of her door. A whirlwind formed outside the window, sending crows spiraling into the sky. Victoria heard the woman shout out a spell. Then everything went silent.
“Use all your powers within.” She smiled.
At that point Glenda knew that the old woman cast the spell.
“You have to leave now. You don’t have much time. A few days tops it will start.” The old woman leads them to the door.
“Are you sure the man at the stone building don’t work for Lilly.”
The woman looked out the window and turned to them.
“Do you know who he is?”
“He said his name was Raven.”
