Henry, my son, was born with the birthmark of the Clover Coven and because of that my father, Helen and thirty others are now protecting me, Clifford, Clifford’s mother and my baby from being executed. We’re currently on the run from our own coven. A few of us think that we should seek mercy from the Clover Coven, but my father refuses. He knows someone who can allow us to get across the waters and into France, and that is where we are currently heading.
Helen has Henry right now and Henry just began to fuss. He’s hungry most likely. The sun is about gone so chances are I won’t have the time to write more after I feed Henry. So I’ll write again tomorrow. Oh, I should also say that Henry is now seven days old. At the point when I had written ‘I have’, which I had recently scratched out, my water had broken. Anyway, I’ll write more tomorrow.
Ellen had slammed the volume shut and quickly laid it on the seat before she rushed to get out of the cab. As she turned towards Harris and the others she saw the curious and concern expressions on their faces.
“What’s wrong?” Harris asked before Ellen could volunteer.
“My ancestors… some of them anyway are from the Raven Coven,” Ellen rattled out.
“And so were a portion of my ancestors,” Harris told Ellen. Ellen gave him a confused look. “As you read from my family’s Legacy volumes, a few of my early ancestors were members of the Clover Coven, and for my family to carry the mark of the Brimstone Coven, my ancestors have to be from all three covens within three generations.”
“True,” Ellen agreed as Wendi and Tony were returning. “I just thought you should know that one of my direct ancestors was the twin sister to Helen—the sorceress and seer who was trying to kill off your direct ancestors… at least, I believe she’s the same Helen anyway.”
“It’s fine, Ellen,” Harris assured her with an amused grin. “You’re a good hearted person, and I won’t hold the actions of your ancestors against you. And you are a member of my family. Okay?”
“Okay,” Ellen agreed with a delightful grin.
“Okay, I think we’re done here,” Harris said as he turned towards Wendi.
“We are,” Wendi agreed. “Grandma, Tony and I will meet everyone at the house.”
“Okay,” Ellen said before turning towards the door and climbing back into the cab.
Harris and Marc had also climbed into the cab, and once Ellen was comfortable in her seat she began to read more of the Legacy volume.
It’s midday and all of us who had fled our coven a few days ago are now back with them.
Because of the coven being heavily divided an assembly was called and a solution was reached.
This morning at sunrise, a few coven members who didn’t flee with us had approached our camp under a flag of truce and with a message from the assembly.
‘Everyone who had fled will be welcome back without punishment; however, before Henry and Clifford can be welcome into the coven, an incantation must be cast on them. The incantation would be cast on my future children who would carry the birthmark of the Clover Coven as well.’
My father, Clifford and I agreed to the terms and the incantation will be cast at sunset. Once the incantation is complete, our falcons will go to Henry, Clifford and any of my future children without whistling. By casting this incantation, Clifford, Henry, any of my future children and even my grandchildren will be differentiated from the Clover Coven.
I’ll write more after the incantation has been cast.
The incantation was cast an hour ago and something unexpected had occurred that brought laughter to most of the witnesses. I’m ashamed to admit that I too had laughed. Anyway, not only did our falcons was attracted to Clifford and Henry after the incantation was cast, but every bird and every farm animal was attracted to them too. Luckily Henry was exhausted and had slept through the humorous calamity.
When Ellen giggled, Harris shot her a glance. “What’s so funny?”
Marc had pulled away behind Wendi when Ellen answered, “I know why my family attracts birds and animals.”
“Why?” Harris asked.
“Let me finish this one paragraph and I’ll let you read it.”
Harris grinned before agreeing, “Okay.”
Ellen went to finish reading the paragraph.
Another incantation was immediately cast to reduce the attraction that the birds and animals had for Clifford and Henry, but I’m afraid that to keep the desired effect, Clifford and Henry will now be attracting stray birds and animals from now on.
I’ll write more later.
Once Ellen had read the paragraph, she held out the volume and pointed to the last paragraph while saying, “Okay, here’s where I had stopped.”
“Okay,” Harris said while taking the volume. He then began reading the volume from the beginning.
Once everyone had returned to Martha’s house, Harris began transferring the Legacy volumes from the cab to the back of the SUV.
Ellen placed volume five on the front passenger seat of the SUV before helping Harris to transfer the remaining volumes.
Tony stepped up and after watching for a short time, he pointed to one of the volumes—one of the books on incantations—while saying, “That one has pages ripped out.”
“Why do you say that, Sweetie?” Wendi quickly asked as everyone gave Tony a curious look.
With fear in his eyes Tony slightly hesitated before saying, “I don’t know. The words just came out.”
Ellen broke her curious stare first, picked up the book and slowly searched through the book for missing pages. After a brief and scrutinizing search she found the location near the back of the book where four consecutive pages had been ripped out. The incantations before it and after it were intact.
“Someone removed an incantation,” Ellen accused without giving Tony’s presence any thought.
“Ellen!” Wendi slightly hissed. Ellen shot Wendi a confused look for her attitude. “Watch what you say around Tony.”
“Yes,” Ellen agreed while shooting a glance Tony’s way. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Obviously,” Wendi said.
“What’s a incantation?” Tony questioned.
“Prayers can be considered incantations,” Brandon answered quickly.
Ellen continued to flip through the book for anymore missing pages. She didn’t find any more, but she did notice something that brought a curious expression across her face.
Just as Ellen began flipping through the book again from the beginning, Martha asked, “Is there something else wrong with it, dear?”
“The print is different from the first half of the book compared to the second half,” Ellen said as she thumbed through the book.
“May I see?” Harris requested.
“Sure,” Ellen said while holding out the book for him to take.
Harris took the book and after noticing what Ellen was referring to, he explained, “The first half of the book was duplicated when the book was copied. However, the second half has original…” Harris hesitated while glancing at Tony. “Originals.” Harris shot Ellen a delightful grin as he continued with, “Your great-grandma was creating her own… material… and that’s actually difficult to do.”
Ellen was about to speak when Mitchell guessed aloud, “So those missing pages were trashed after messing up.”
Ellen slightly grinned just as Harris said, “Unlikely.”
“Why would that be unlikely?” Ellen was the one to ask.
“There’s a… a method to clean off a page,” Harris explained as he glanced towards Tony. “She wouldn’t need to rip out pages. And if your great-grandmother was anything like Sadie, your great-grandmother would’ve worked through it on loose sheets of blank paper first before adding it to her collection.”
“So she ripped it out because she didn’t want anyone else seeing it,” Ellen guessed.
Ellen saw a thought occurring to Harris just before he strongly pointed out, “We could speculate all day as to why those pages were ripp
ed out and never get it right.”
“Okay,” Ellen said in an uncertain tone. “You know, I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m hungry.”
“I haven’t eaten since yesterday,” Brandon added as Harris was putting the book back into the SUV and shutting the hatch. “I could grab something.”
Ellen shot Brandon a polite grin as Harris said, “Martha, thanks for your hospitality. Ellen and I are going to grab something to eat and then head back towards Kansas City.”
“Yes,” Martha agreed with a pleasant grin. “You had brought back memories that were once forgotten. So thanks for the trip through memory lane.”
Harris amusingly grinned before saying, “Anytime.”
“Ellen, I know we haven’t known each other long, but it seems inappropriate for me to let you leave without getting a ‘goodbye’ hug from you,” Martha prompted.
“I know what you mean,” Ellen said with a grin before giving Martha a hug.
Once the hug ended between Ellen and Martha, Harris gave Martha a hug as well.
After the hugs were over, Martha went into her purse while saying, “Harris. Ellen. I would like to give you two my phone number.”
“Of course,” Harris said as Martha pulled out a pen and paper. Harris turned towards Mitchell. “Mitchell, just in case your truck would break down, we should drive along with each other.”
“Sounds good,” Mitchell agreed.
Harris was handed Martha’s number, and once everyone said his or her final ‘goodbye’ Ellen and Harris got into the SUV while Mitchell and Brandon got back into the truck.
Ellen waited for Harris to start the SUV and drive away before accusing, “You thought of a likely reason why my great-grandma would rip out that incantation.”
“Why would you think that?” Harris asked.
“You looked like that you had an epiphany before you abruptly stopped us from speculating more,” Ellen pointed out.
Harris grinned before confessing, “Okay, you’re right. A thought had occurred to me, but again it’s only a speculation.”
“And what is your speculation?” Ellen prompted.
“There are vivacious incantations that require more to them than simply reciting verses,” Harris began. “And a lot of vivacious incantations are combat incantations.”
“You think that she might’ve used that incantation against Vincentia?” Ellen questioned.
Harris slightly hesitated before saying, “It’s… it’s possible.”
“Okay, well, how would someone cast a vivacious incantation?” Ellen asked.
“Some involve reciting the lines and then burning the pages that they’re written on,” Harris began. After a short pause, he let out a sigh. “I can’t think of what the others involve. Sadie could tell you though. Oh and some defensive incantations can also be vivacious incantations as well.”
Ellen thought for a second before asking, “Is there an incantation that can restore missing pages?”
“I seriously doubt it,” Harris answered.
“Okay,” Ellen said before turning her attention to volume five.
When Ellen became quiet, Harris glanced over towards her and slightly grinned when he saw that she was reading.
Within a short time, Harris came across a diner on South Kingshighway Boulevard, south of Arsenal Street.
After Harris and Mitchell parked their vehicles, the four went inside to eat. Once their meals were ordered, a conversation was brought up about Brandon having three sons and no daughters.
Brandon’s oldest son—by an ex-girlfriend—was twenty-five years old and was working for a company that designed and distributed software. His other two kids were by his current wife Margo, who he had been married to for six and a half years. His second oldest son was six years old and his youngest son was four years old.
Chapter Ten
Sunday morning in Kansas City, Missouri, Ellen, Allyson, Harris, Shannon and Avery worked hard to box things up for Ellen’s move.
At 11:40 A.M., Allyson and Shannon had left the house to buy chicken and side dishes.
By noontime, Ellen, Harris, Allyson, Shannon and Avery had sat down to eat their meal, but before anyone could take a bite of anything the doorbell sounded.
“I wonder who that is,” Ellen said while standing.
“Your dad and uncle most likely,” Harris said. Ellen shot Harris a disturbed look. “They want a copy of your great-grandmother’s Legacy volumes, so I handed Mitchell a list of the supplies that they needed in order for us to copy them.”
“And you’re telling me this now?” Ellen questioned.
“I wasn’t sure how you would react while knowing that your father and uncle were coming over, so I thought I had better not tell you until you couldn’t do anything about it,” Harris told her.
Ellen rolled her eyes before turning towards the front door. As she walked away, she mumbled, “Jeez; give me some credit.”
“Well, that went better than I expected,” Shannon told Harris.
“It did,” Harris agreed.
When Ellen opened the door, she saw Mitchell and Brandon standing behind a dolly. On the dolly were four cases of white twenty-pound copy paper. Setting on the top case were forty brown-leather skins that were twenty inches by twelve inches and seven six-packs of fountain pen refills.
Ellen stared curiously at the supplies while questioning, “Jeez, what did you two do, rob an office supply store?” Before Mitchell or Brandon could answer, Ellen abruptly and fearfully looked into Mitchell’s eyes while demanding, “Please tell me you didn’t and mean it.”
“Give us some credit, Ellen,” Mitchell requested. Ellen crossed her arms while giving Mitchell a skeptical stare. While pulling out a receipt from his pocket he continued with, “I have the receipt; jeez!”
“Fine,” Ellen finally said before gesturing towards the dolly. “That doesn’t come in. The last thing I want is a long tread-mark across the carpet.”
“Yes, Mom,” Mitchell sarcastically said.
Ellen shot back a distasteful smirk. Mitchell and Brandon amusingly grinned as Mitchell went to pick up a case of paper. Once Mitchell was carrying in the first case, Brandon picked up a case and followed. Ellen picked up a case too and followed behind Brandon.
Mitchell put his case down in the living room, and when he saw that Ellen was carrying in a case, he warned, “You’re going to hurt yourself if you’re not careful.”
While using the proper lifting technique, Ellen put down the case of paper alongside where Mitchell and Brandon had placed theirs. As she stood upright she said, “Well, it’s a good thing I’m careful.” Ellen read the paper box while continuing with, “I can also lift… wait. That says twenty pounds. That’s not right. That case of paper is heavier than twenty pounds.”
“The thickness of the paper is considered a twenty-pound paper, Ellen,” Brandon explained as Harris, Allyson, Shannon and Avery were stepping in. “The box weight itself is close at being fifty pounds.”
“Ah; I knew it was more than twenty pounds,” Ellen said. “And I can lift it.”
“Obviously,” Brandon said as Mitchell went to get the final case.
“Capable or not I’ll get the last case,” Mitchell quickly said.
“Fine with me,” Ellen assured him.
“We just sat down to eat when you two rang the doorbell,” Allyson supplied as Mitchell was carrying the final case into the house. “We’re eating chicken and we have plenty if you two would like to join us… of course there are only five kitchen seats, so two of us will have to stand.”
Mitchell and Brandon shot Ellen curious looks as Mitchell was putting down the case of paper next to the others.
Ellen only saw the look that she got from Mitchell, and while giving him a curious look, she questioned, “Why are you looking at me? I didn’t invite you.”
“If you have a problem with us eating…” Mitchell was only able to get out.
“I don’t,” Ellen interrupted. “You won
’t bother me by eating with us.”
“Okay then,” Mitchell said with a slight grin. “Brandon and I will join you.”
“That’s fine,” Ellen assured him.
“Mitchell and I will also stand,” Brandon added.
Ellen shrugged as if to say, ‘Doesn’t matter.’
“We’ll copy the Legacy volumes after we eat,” Shannon announced.
“Alright,” Mitchell said before everyone turned and walked towards the kitchen.
“So how much did the office supplies cost?” Ellen asked.
“It was around a hundred and twenty dollars,” Mitchell answered. “Why?”
“I was thinking that I should pay half,” Ellen said before she, Harris, Allyson and Avery retook their seats.
Shannon went to the cabinet to pull out two more plates.
“An off brand case of paper is thirty dollars or more,” Allyson pointed out. “So four cases alone would cost a hundred and twenty dollars before taxes.”
“Unless the manager of the office supply store is an old girlfriend,” Brandon retorted while giving Mitchell an amused grin.
Mitchell vigorously shook his head for Brandon to hush. Ellen saw Brandon’s reaction and when Brandon quit talking, Ellen asked, “Why would I care about one of your old girlfriends? Unless…” Ellen slightly laughed without humor before shaking her head and accusing, “You cheated on Mom.”
“I didn’t exactly cheat on your mother,” Mitchell defended.
“Did you date this woman between the time when you began dating Mom and I was born?” Ellen asked.
“Your mom was a couple of months pregnant with Christian,” Mitchell began. Shannon handed him one of the two plates that she had gotten out of the cabinet. As Shannon was handing Brandon the second plate, Mitchell continued with, “We had a huge fight; she kicked me out and I really thought that our marriage was over at that point. I went to a tavern and I met a woman named Cheryl. Cheryl and I had dated for a couple of months before your mom and I had reconciled. I had broken it off with Cheryl immediately.”
Legacy Page 17
