by Lady Ellen
Twelve years later, they still lived in Rockmanor with Robert, only now in the house because within a couple of years, Robert and Angelica had married; before Persy was two and a half years old. Angelica silently mourned Andreas, Persy’s father, but had made a choice to come to this safer time for her daughter’s sake, so the new marriage made sense and Robert was an exceptional husband and father.
Robert was the only Dad Persy had ever known and she loved him deeply, probably as much as her Mom. Robert more than any of them, feared the unveiling of his wife and daughter. He’d be out of his mind with worry if this Mind Erase wasn’t done immediately. Frankly, Persy always felt Robert was a little too strict with the whole protection thing, and often wondered what it would have been like to be raised by her wizard father. Why hadn’t he tracked them down? Wasn’t she special enough to seek out? They could have been a family hiding among the Munz, just like her and Mom were doing. She knew he’d been pursued by the Hunters and had to flee, but why forever? It was safe here, though. She supposed she’d never know.
Mom home-schooled Persy in White Magic but didn’t include much about life back in Bellarya. Persy did know, however, that her name was chosen by Angelica because: 1) Angelica liked the name but more importantly 2) it has a resonance with her future, although Angelica wouldn’t elaborate. It was purposely misspelled from the mythical goddess “Perseph—o-ne” so Persy wouldn’t have to endure a lifetime of associations with the underworld queen.
Benson sometimes talked a little about the “British Times”, but not often; mostly after evening tea and a couple of wee (dragonfly sized) snifters of eighteen-year-old snapdragon wine.
“Ah, lassie,” he’d say, “Ya kin feel the fairy folk dancing around the flowers!” Yes, well that was Benson in his more mellow times and when he became too relaxed, he tended to speak his words backwards. She’d never forget the time after one too many snifters; he turned to her and told her to “pis” her tea. Problem was, she was visiting a friend who, of course, couldn’t hear him and found Persy’s raucous laughter somewhat misplaced, as the friend was telling her about the death of her favourite parakeet.
Angelica told both her and Robert a little of what it was like back in England during the 1600’s. Although witches and wizards couldn’t be killed by fire, the officials would round up anyone they thought was practicing magic and decided whether they were witch or wizard, sentencing the guilty to be burned. The problem was that no real witch or wizard could work under these conditions of constant fear of exposure. If they weren’t charged, and of course they had spells to slant the odds that they weren’t, then anyone who worked with them or were associated with them in any way were arrested, interrogated, examined and often burned. It was a horrible time for all, magical or not.
Andreas was taken one night when Persy was just over a month old and never heard from again. Angelica had an aunt who was arrested and although the officials think they burned her, she simply did a Vanishing Spell in the middle of the fire and now lives quietly in Argentina.
It was extremely difficult for “burned” witches and wizards to communicate with left-behind family back in those times, as believe it or not, the Magic Hunters had a few witches and wizards working on their side and these traitorous Magicals could pick up the energetic of communication between family members. They could only hope Andreas is under these constraints and all right wherever he was.
Angelica gathered what she needed and in 1666 their time, and she crossed from their magical multiverse of Bellarya through the Time-Linx with her baby daughter and Benson to start a new life.
Growing up in a Munz world certainly had it’s challenges for a strongly magical baby. Robert and Angelica had to watch her every move to protect her from being discovered. It didn’t take Persy long to use ‘hither’ charms to command her toys come to her when she desired. The number of times Angelica swiped floating dolls or stuffed animals out of the air was beyond count.
There was a portal to the dimension of Bellarya in the secret attic which Persy, Angelica and Benson would pass through for Persy’s training. Angelica used a ‘hydros’ spell to turn them into a mist which would allow them to easily pass over. She preferred teaching Persy there, in a more current time as the energetics of magic would not be unusual or cause undue notice. They had a favourite woodland area they’d go to in that world, not far from Rockmanor in the Munz world. It was secluded from other magicals, but a great hangout for fair folk of all types: fairies, dryads, nymphs, brownies.
Persy was trained from the age of three on minor spells, borrowing Angelica’s wand. Also she learned about the herbs, crystals and various other magical elements to make potions, tonics and brews.
She was always questioning, wanting to know more, do more, more difficult spells. Keeping a lid on her was next to impossible.
“Persy? Are you down there daydreaming? I need a black candle brought up here. Remember?” Angelica called from upstairs.
Persy grabbed one out of the pantry and sprinted up the stairs to the attic. Persy loved this room with all the magical herbs tied and hung upside down from the ceiling beams, precious oils in decanters on the shelves along with dried anatomical parts, poisons, flowers, gems, crystals and umpteen coloured candles. And this and Bellarya was the only place she got to do magic.
Angelica opened her Book of Shadows which rested on its wooden stand. She held a paper in her hand with the words “My Secret” on it, and on the other side of the paper, the actual secret, which was that Persephane Pendrake was a witch.
Angelica lit the black candle and chanted as she rubbed out the letters of “My Secret” one by one:
* * *
“As I erase each letter away
Your memory will lose my secret (the list of people who were told) today,
And after the last letter is erased and paper burned
My secret in your mind--will never return
As I say, so mote it be!”
* * *
She had done the Threading Charm before and found the list of busy bodies that were told of the day’s events, so she could fit the names into the spell.
It was done and Dad was still about fifteen minutes from getting home. He worked as the curator in the Alexandrian Museum in Willington, a small city, about three quarters of an hour away.
Whew! With Mom’s help, Persy certainly dodged a whole mess of trouble. A very quiet Tuesday evening was definitely in order. And while Tuesday evening was quiet, that wasn’t the case for the weekend.
Orsina
Saturday morning began blindingly bright. Persy finished breakfast and with Benson on her right shoulder, strolled outside to the front porch. After Tuesday’s events, she was glad she wasn’t going to be faced with school and Kyle Dunsmore for two days. Although he had said nothing on Wednesday, she’d been nervous that some memory of the escaped sparkles would be remembered.
The sun and warm spring air seemed to beckon her, and she walked down the steps, out onto the road. Perfect day for the forest.
Five minutes into the woods, they came to the crystal waterfall. She glanced up at the falls then sat on the moss and wildflower covered bank. Peaceful. She looked up and down the river, as often there was a small brown bear and her black cub drinking from the river or catching fish. They never bothered anyone, and she enjoyed watching them.
On occasion, Persy had tried to communicate with the bear, but animals have the right to refuse Silent Speak conversations, and that seemed to be the case with this private bruin.
Benson landed on her forearm and looked up at her face.
“Lovely little walk down the road, eh, what?” he said. Persy grinned and rolled her eyes. “Yes, that it was.” He often sounded like a quaint British vicar that she’d seen on British TV.
Persy sat back on her elbows and within a few minutes the bear and her cub showed up. Both bears glanced up at her and then bent their heads to the river to drink.
Without warning, Persy heard a
voice talking to her, a woman. “Persephane Pendrake, my name is Orsina, we need to speak,” the voice said. Sparkles floated in the air over the bears’ heads.
Persy’s mouth dropped open and she bolted up straight. Benson shot into the air. “What the...?” he snapped.
“Quiet, Benson, the bear is talking to me!”
“I know that love, I can hear her! No need to get all batty about it!”
Persy shushed him and looked back over at Orsina. She continued to talk to Persy.
“For many years I have been watching over you from a distance. Now that you are within range of the time of knowing...it is time I make contact with you. You are aware that you are an evolving witch, but what you probably don’t know is the depth of your power and the power you are about to gain in the coming years. This information, when appropriate is always passed to the individual witch or wizard by an animal spirit because we have proven ourselves as very reliable keepers of secrets, and also as guardians of young, talented Magical Folk such as you.
Your mother knows I’m here, but has taken a vow of silence on this matter, allowing you to develop properly. It is up to me to tell you more of your past, so listen carefully, Persephane Pendrake, this is very important for you to know, to understand your fate in this life.
The portal your mother brought you and Benson through under that waterfall is a part of the Time-Linx, as you will have been told. The Time-Linx does just that; links all things throughout all of time. It can also be a way to access other magical dimensions. Albert Einstein of this world once proposed that time is not linear; that all is happening at the same time and he was right. It’s through the Time-Linx that talented Magical Folk can travel to anytime, from 10,000 years ago; the times of Atlantis or to Ancient Egypt, at the beginning of their belief in gods, some 6,000 years ago, to eons into the future, and of course everything in between. Although in some cases, the traveling to the future is blocked for magical reasons. There are situations in many eras which will need your help Persephane Pendrake, and these will be made known to you when the time is right.
When you phase from one world to the other you have the ability to land at the exact point you left when you return, so you will never be missed by the Munz around you. The majority of your future will be in your magical world of Bellarya.
It’s time Persephane Pendrake, very soon. You are three months from reaching thirteen years of age, and Magical maturity, which is close enough to begin to time travel. Your mother knows how to prepare you for Time-Linxing. I will contact you again in exactly one month’s time and we shall meet here. Until then, keep learning.” The conversation stopped as quickly as it had began.
Persy raised her eyebrows and widened her eyes Her legs were quaking. “But…” The bears vanished under the falls.
A zillion questions flew through her mind. She blinked quickly, then looked down at Benson. “What was she on about?”
Benson zipped around her head and shoulders. “I’d say love, that your life’s about to take a rather large turn.”
The Time-Linx
Persy dashed home, both her and Benson fuelled by Orsina’s new information. She was almost of age to use the Time-Linx and yet knew very little about it. Angelica had told her briefly about coming here, but never just when or how she’d be using it, even though Persy asked repeatedly. If she heard, ‘all things in good time’, once more she was going to pitch the biggest hissy—ever.
Growing up, Persy experienced varying levels of her talents; talking to animals, insects and even flowers on occasion, but they were particularly resistant to chatting, fairly indifferent for the most part. Benson explained that being rooted in one spot makes them cantankerous, a jealousy thing, something you also have to watch out for in fairies. Jealousy among the Magical Folk could be a major barrier to overcome when you needed to contact or work with any of them. And of course, getting herself into trouble by ‘hithering’ her toys, even when no one was around.
“Mom!” Persy called, running into the house. “I met and had a Silent Speak with Orsina by the waterfalls, today.”
“Ah,” smiled Angelica. “So it’s time.”
“Well I’m a couple of months away from time travel, but she said that you would help me prepare. What do I have to do?”
“I think for the most part, she’d want me to tell you about the workings of the Time-Linx, what to expect, how to travel, you know...that sort of thing. Sit down, honey.”
They sat at the kitchen table, Benson on top of the napkin holder. “Oh, goodie a story--just LOVE stories,” and he giggled. Persy shot him a disdainful look and he piped down.
“First you will travel to Bellarya and go from there.
“Tell me more about Bellarya.”
“It’s our own Magical Realm. Bellarya exists on a much higher frequency than this Munz Real, so magic can be done freely, more easily and not noticed. Like the sparkles of Silent Speak—they are barely noticed. So common. There is a bit of a trade off to magic being easier to do there. It also makes Dark Magic more dangerous. There’s a hierarchy which we’ll explain later.
Now, the Time-Linx was built at the height of Atlantean time,” Angelica continued. “The scientists then were so much further ahead of even where science is today in this world. Everything was developed in complete unity with nature. The top researchers, inventors and magicals had one on one access to Gaia or Mother Earth, who was later very involved in ancient Greek Magic. That’s why their science progressed in leaps and bounds, because it never harmed the planet.
The Time-Linx was evolved from an intimate knowledge of the full space/time continuum and complete respect of those laws. It is driven by energetics. Many of its portals also enable access to multiverses. You’ll know this if there is a green crystal globe embedded in the wall of the entrance of the portal. To use the Time-Linx, one first has to be of a specific vibration themselves, a particular level of witch or wizard, and then enter a Linx portal, with their desired destiny in mind, focusing hard on that one destination. I’ve seen some nasty messes of people who were unsure about where they wanted to go and body parts were scattered throughout millennia. Very untidy and it takes an extremely talented Magical Folk to put that back together, so not recommended.
You will see yourself shimmering and feel as if you’re floating, with very strong winds around you, but that’s about all. You know when you have arrived as the light increases a great deal like a beautiful sunny day, even if it’s not sunny where you land. Your vision clears and you simply exit the arrival portal. The multiverse entrances require the hydros spell or in time, you’ll be able to use the ‘Transversus’ spell to hop multiverses, but that’ll come later.”
“What can I do to prepare for this and not get tossed about like I landed in a blender?” asked Persy, her muscles tightening and her mouth going dry.
“Well, you know how I’ve taught you to meditate over the years? You should really work on that skill. Holding a focus on one thought for ten minutes or so. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but ten minutes is a long time to keep your mind clearly directed at one thing. The Time-Linx doesn’t require you to concentrate that long, but if you can do ten minutes, you’ll have no problem with this at all. It’s a training method all Magical Folk use”.
“Where would I go first?” Persy cleared her throat and rubbed her now-stiff neck.
“We’ll let Orsina decide on that...she knows where you are needed most.”
“Needed? For what? And what do I do when I get there? What’s expected of me?” She began to pace.
“Again, Orsina will prepare you. Don’t worry about the details yet.” Angelica grabbed her by her shoulders, then hugged her. Persy relaxed.
“Ok, Mom, I may as well get going on this.” Persy turned and ran upstairs to her room, where she’d be undisturbed.
“Oh, light a brown candle and practice your focusing on its flame. The colour will help ground you to concentrate better,” Angelica called after her.
After closing her bedroom door and pulling a brown candle off her shelf, Persy sat at her desk, got comfortable and ready to work. Her heart rate was slowing down.
“Hey Perse! I’ve got a great idea! How about while you’re practicing...I fly and buzz around you to see if I can distract you and if I don’t...we know you’ve got it?”
Persy gave him a sideways glance and murmured through tight lips, “Benson my fine English odonate, keep that blabbering up and I’m sure the rather hungry blue jay I happened to notice when I was coming up the stairs would enjoy a fine morsel, such as yourself.” Persy grinned.
“Eek!” Benson shrieked in feigned horror. “At least offer to feed me to a bird of status like a pheasant...not a bottom-feeding scavenger like the common blue jay.”
Persy chuckled. “Ah well, I guess I would miss you if you were gone...somewhat!” she said, now fully smiling, while rummaging through her top desk drawer, looking for her candle lighter.
“Stop...you’re breaking my heart,” Benson said snidely. “Fine, fine...I’m history, you little rotter!” And he buzzed off up to the topmost corner of her drapes, to console himself with a sulking session.
At first, Persy found concentrating completely for more than a minute really difficult, but by the time she spent an hour trying; starting over again, and again, she managed to do three minutes at a time rather well. Not bad. I’ve got this.
Monday, at school was pretty much like any other school day. She was not one of the ‘popular’ crowd, so usually on her own. Persy even ran into Kyle, not that it was her idea of a good plan, and he said nothing of Tuesday’s mess. She was SO grateful that Mom was talented with Memory Erases, it obviously worked like a charm. She chuckled to herself--a “charm”.
