by Dani Corlee
CHAPTER 14
“Poor Granny!” Aurora said, kicking her car seat.
Kim nodded and thought about the accident of the previous day. How could her mom mistake a cat for a panther? It was quite weird.
“I liked the bedtime story she told me yesterday evening.”
“A fairy tale?” Kim asked surprised.
“No, about the first men on the moon. They flied high and high and reached the moon! I want to fly to the moon too when I'm grown up.”
“Oh, sure. I remember she told me that story too.” Kim smiled.
“I'm sorry I couldn't see her again when she left this early morning.”
“She kissed and cuddled you a lot yesterday evening, I know.”
“Yes,” Aurora giggled.
“And when she went away, she asked me to kiss you goodbye again. Which I did with pleasure, didn't I?” Kim laughed while parking the car.
They got off and looked around. It was a beautiful day, the sun gently warming their skin and casting sharp shadows all over. The equestrian center was big, with stables on three sides of a large fenced pen where two horses were lazily moving around. Each stable had various boxes, some of them with horses peeking out, and one was connected to a large barn. Farther away, on one side of the center, there were other pens. A few country roads departed on each side, also going into the wood, and few little groups of riders could be seen in the distance.
Not many visitors seemed to be in the center, while many workers were busy around the boxes.
Looking around, Kim breathed heavily. The smell reminded her of her vacations as a kid, when she used to spend summers with her grandparents in the countryside.
Aurora had not stopped talking about the adventure she was going to experience in a few minutes and was now very excited. The possibility of riding a real pony was overwhelming for her and she couldn't wait anymore. She pulled at her mom, urging her to walk quicker.
But Kim tried not to hurry up. She was a little embarrassed, fearing again that James might think she was going there to meet him. Then she remembered how much he had praised his place and decided he was only looking after new clients and had no interest in her. After all, why should he? They had only met once. With Aurora pulling at her harder, she realized wearing sandals to such a dusty place hadn't been a good idea. She shielded her eyes with her free hand and looked for the vet while Aurora started pointing to the other side of the pen and exclaimed, more excited than ever: “He's there! The doctor is there!”
Hearing her shouts brought to him on a light breeze, the vet turned and spotted them. He smiled, waving at them with big gestures, and moved to reach them. Many workers' and visitors' heads turned to look at them with curiosity and Kim blushed, not knowing why.
The vet hurried towards them, and Kim couldn't help smiling inside at his look. He had been professional in his white scrubs, and was very good looking in his present attire: a long-sleeved shirt in gray plaid, and jeans adorned with a leather belt with a silver western-style buckle and boots. A real cowboy!
“Kim,” he said, shaking her hand. He then turned to Aurora: “Good morning, young lady. Ready for a ride?”
She clapped her hands and nodded.
“We have three ponies to choose from. Betty, Lucy, and Hugo.”
Aurora laughed. “Hugo?” she asked. Kim couldn't help laughing too.
“He has a very good temper, and I'm sure you could be great friends. Shall we saddle Hugo?”
He shouted something at a man with a cowboy hat who was near the boxes and then turned to Kim again. “While Hugo is prepared, you might want to visit the place. Shall we go?”
Some noise interrupted him. He turned and gestured to ask someone what was happening. The man shrugged, then turned and shouted to somebody in the barn. A distant answer resounded from inside. The man moved and went into the barn, getting out soon after shouting to the vet. “Horatio!” he shouted. “He's nervous,” and opened his arms in a helpless gesture.
James frowned. “Problems?” Kim asked.
He scratched his cheek, where a one-day beard shadow was starting to show. “No, I don't know. He's a patient and calm horse. I don't know why he's nervous. They are all quite... restless today. Maybe the weather is changing.” He looked up around, smelling the air.
“Can it be dangerous? We can come back another time.”
“No, Hugo is waiting!” and he caressed Aurora's head who smiled, satisfied, knowing her ride wasn't going to be postponed.
“Let's have a look at the boxes first.” He showed them all the horses in the outside boxes and Aurora was impressed by how big they were. She greeted and talked to all of them, and they all seemed to listen to her and to greet her too with their head gestures and loud neighs.
When they approached the barn, the noise inside grew louder. “Let me have a look,” James said and entered. “I want to see it too.” Aurora was too quick for Kim and broke away from her mom who, worried, ran after her.
She was soon able to grab her daughter by the T-shirt. Her face reddened by agitation, she hissed, “Aurora! You know you must not run away like that. You'll get a punishment once at home.”
She looked up, suddenly realizing the silence around them. Many workers were by one of the boxes and were turned to look at them. Even all the horses, their heads peeping out of the boxes, were looking at them, extremely calm and still.
Aurora succeeded in getting free of her mom's grip and looked around. “Hi!” she said, waving at them. There were few subdued neighs as in reply.
Then she saw Horatio. Her hands on her cheeks, her mouth open, forming an O, she stared at him.
“Mom, look, there's a Dalmatian horse!” James laughed, his concern about the sudden calmness forgotten.
Horatio neighed few times, moving his head up and down, looking as if he wanted to give his opinion about it.
“He's not a Dalmatian, he's an Appaloosa. His name is Horatio Confetti, but you can call him Horatio. Have you ever heard of Pippi Longstocking?”
Aurora nodded. “I saw her on the TV. Oh, yes, Horatio looks like her horse!”
“Yes, and Horatio was the name the horse was given in one of the movies. We thought it was appropriate.”
Horatio was pulling his neck as near as possible towards Aurora, so as to get her attention. His calm and slow movements made everyone forget the previous fuss.
“Let's go get Hugo.”
The three moved, and Horatio didn't avert his eyes from them, neighing softly as in plea.
Hugo's box was a little further, at the other end of the barn. The little pony was waiting for them, already saddled up, just outside a spacious box, where the other two ponies were lazily chewing their fodder. Hugo was a beautiful animal with a shiny black coat. His long black mane was shiny, and a thick, puffed-out lock partially covered his forehead. His tail was long and thick. He stood straight, looking at them proudly with an attitude, seemingly unaware of his tiny size.
Aurora looked at her mom, giggling. “Isn't he beautiful? May I touch him?”
Kim looked at James in a silent question.
“Of course you can!” he replied, smiling. It was his greatest reward when someone showed appreciation for his animals.
Aurora started approaching the fiery pony, then, as if changing her mind, turned to her mom, and hugged her, as if to thank her for having allowed her that experience.
Kim patted on the back, happy her daughter appreciated their visit so much.
Now Aurora was ready for her ride and approached the pony. A worker rushed to them, but James waved him to go. “I'll take care of it,” he said, dismissing him, and helped Aurora to get up on Hugo.
Taking the pony by the harness, they walked slowly along the barn, all the horses looking after them.
When approaching Horatio, the horse neighed loud. Hugo had been led straight in his walk till then, but suddenly turned toward Horatio, regardless of James' efforts.
“What's the matter with you
, Hugo?” he said laughing, but his gaze looked slightly worried. Kim looked at him and he added, “He's always very obedient.” Then, back to the little animal, “Hugo, this way!” But there was nothing to do and they all ended in front of Horatio, who had been keeping on neighing quietly.
Once in front of his box, Hugo approached Horatio, and Aurora was quick to touch his snout, gently caressing him.
With a surprised and amused look in her eyes, Kim laughed. “It looks like he ordered Hugo to bring Aurora to him.”
Not receiving any answer, she turned to James. He wasn't laughing and mumbled a laconic yes, while carefully observing Horatio.
Without any notice, Hugo started walking again, this time heading towards the end of the barn, where they were supposed to go. The long walk in the pen went on without any other unexpected event, and Aurora enjoyed her ride a lot. Kim and James chatted about the town and their jobs. Kim enjoyed James's company: once in a while it was refreshing to talk to someone who wasn't involved with magic and witches. For the first time since her arrival, she could see the town from another perspective, through James's eyes. Once they had to leave, Aurora hugged the little pony, who stood straight, looking at them without wanting to move until they weren't visible anymore.
CHAPTER 15
The phone rang while Kim was talking to Isidora about the group’s progress in the study of the antenna. Isidora was taken by surprise and put her hand on the receiver, looking at Lucille, who entered the room after a quick knock without waiting for an answer, gesturing like mad. A phone call meant something unexpected. The receptionists and all the other witches alike would have used their telepathy to introduce any witch, or give any information. Who could it be?
“Yes?”
“Isidora, Mrs. Chassey wants to speak to you.”
Isidora paled. “Really?” There was a pause before she continued. “Well, my dear, put me through to her.”
“No, I mean, she's here in front of me.” the receptionist waited for an answer.
She swallowed. “Oh. Incredible. Please take her to my office.”
Isidora slowly put down the receiver and looked thoughtful. “Jacqueline is here,” she murmured.
“Do you mean that Jacqueline? What for?” Lucille exclaimed keeping on gesturing.
Isidora glanced down at her hands. They were shaking slightly. “I don't know. I was sure she was still living in Europe. I hope it has nothing to do with old rancor.”
“Shall we leave?” Lucille asked, her forehead wrinkling.
A light knock on the door announced the guest’s arrival.
Isidora whispered to Lucille and Kim, “Hide yourself.” At the puzzled gaze of Kim, Lucille made them both invisible while Isidora gestured to keep silent.
The receptionist opened the door and Mrs. Chassey entered, looking around.
Regardless of her age, she was walking straight, even though slowly, and helping herself with a walking stick. Her features had changed but not her look, which was still proud and imperious. Also, her classy manners and her seraphic half-smile were the same.
“Good afternoon, Isidora. Nice to meet you again.”
“Jacqueline,” Isidora said with a gesture of her head, inviting her to sit.
The old woman kept silent while sitting. She adjusted her stick in front of her holding the silver knob with both hands and looked straight into the witch's eyes. “How many years has it been, Isidora? Five? Ten?”
Isidora stared back at her. “More than 30, I'm sure,” she replied in an unmoved voice, even though she was feeling uneasy.
“Oh, time flies, doesn't it? Funny how in a small town we haven’t met for so long,” Jacqueline said with nonchalance.
Isidora squinted and leaned slightly on the desk. “Not so strange when people try not to meet...” she replied.
“Oh, well, you might be right,” the other woman giggled, looking down and caressing her silky skirt.
“So, what's the reason for your unexpected but relished visit?”
She adjusted herself on the armchair and breathed deeply. “My grandson met one of your witches in town, the other day. That funny old one who behaves like a teen. I think Lucille is her name.”
The loud pop of a burst chewing gum was heard in the air. Lucille, still invisible, couldn't contain her scorn and chewed furiously.
Jacqueline remained imperturbable. “I suppose those walls have ears and eyes,” she said with an ironic smile. “Am I safe here?”
Isidora coughed embarrassedly to cover any other sound by Lucille and asked, “I don't know what you mean. Lucille is a member of this club, yes. So what?”
Jacqueline frowned. She tightened her fists on the stick’s knob, and her voice was harsh when she said, “Don't fool me, Isidora. You have done it already a long time ago, and I don't intend to let you do it again.”
Isidora pushed back her shoulders and regained a strong posture. She was shaken; nobody had talked that way to her for a long time.
“I understand Lucille was with a young woman. A very pretty one, my grandson said. I suppose she was your older granddaughter, wasn't she?”
Isidora was caught off guard. She knew well it couldn't be Ravyn because she was always at the club in her official job as administrative manager. “I don't know,” she replied. “I don't quite understand what you are here for.”
The woman leaned forward near the desk. “I want it, Isidora. I want it back for my family.”
“I don't...”
“I want the power, I want the magic back for us. I'm not in love with marrying into your family, Isidora, but if this is necessary, I'll do the sacrifice. I want the magic for my offspring. I want my grandson to marry a witch!”
Isidora was speechless. Centuries had passed since the Chasseys had lost their powers. The community trusted that the family had started believing it to be a legend, a tale to tell to children as a bedtime story.
Jacqueline continued. “I've studied a lot all these years; I tried to find a way to regain our powers. I know we have them, they are hidden somewhere inside us. We have witches' blood in our veins. I can feel something; I know I can use a tiny portion of those powers. And I know something important is happening now. I can feel it. I can smell it in the air. Give us back the powers, Isidora. Let us be in your circle. We can be a great resource for you.”
Isidora had held her breath. She was pale, her hands slightly shaking. She still didn't understand if that had been a declaration of war or of peace. Her eyes still narrowed. With a hard expression she replied, “Community. We call it community. A circle is a group within the community.”
Jacqueline nodded.
That was a big change for the witches’ world. They had kept their secrecy for hundreds of thousands of years, hiding themselves even from those who had lost their powers. Letting a non-witch family know about their existence was unusual, probably a hazard. But Jacqueline had governed that family for so long, she was very old, much more than non-witches were usually allowed to live.
She must have dedicated her entire life to magic, Isidora thought. Probably she deserves the powers more than many of us. And she's not asking for herself, but for her family, for her progeny. Yet, old disagreements made her suspicious and insecure about how to react. Moreover, she couldn't oblige anyone to marry her grand-grandson!
“Think about it, Isidora. Matthew is a handsome guy, women go crazy for him. Make him meet that woman. I'll give you the permission to use your magic to make them fell in love. Whatever. But give us back the power!” She stood up, supporting herself on her stick, and, without another word, she turned and slowly walked away.
Isidora called the receptionist. “Please come here and help Mrs. Chassey to...”
“No!” she exclaimed, turning again toward Isidora to brandish her stick in the air. “I don't need any help. I can do anything by myself. Anything.”
That was too much for Isidora, who was nervous about her telling people she gave her permission to use her magic.
“I'm not giving you any help. I want to be sure you get out of my place. I don't need permission to do what I do, and I don't need your permission to escort you out!” she hissed.
They waited a few minutes to be sure she was out of sight, and then Lucille made herself visible again. A soft coughing reminded her that Kim was still under the spell. Lucille laughed and made fun of her, carelessly whistling as if not remembering her friend was unable to do anything to be visible again.
“Lucille! The Queen!” was the abrupt exclamation of Isidora, who wasn't in the right mood to tolerate another insult after Mrs. Chassey.
