Precious Anathema

by T. L. Manning

  “Would you come back with me in a few days?” I hugged him tight from behind and lay my face against his chest.

  “Always, I will always come back with you.”

  EIGHT

  I made my way into the Estate with a spring in my step and his smell on my breasts, all the while looking to the air till I was safe inside. I ran through the parlor, into the sitting room where I found Freya reading one of her herb books and sat down across from her, patiently waiting as I tapped my foot on the floor. She spoke without glancing up from her book.

  “I can tell you have something important to tell me young lady so I will play.” She closed her book and then looked up at me with a grin, which quickly changed to pale white. I froze up, she knew what I had done at the river I just knew it. I started to open my mouth and explain that I didn’t actually do it, that maybe it just seemed that way in her vision when she stood up.

  “You saw her; you saw the Lechuza didn’t you?” I was suddenly confused, she didn’t see or didn’t care what I had been doing with Xander, but what the hell was she talking about?

  “Her, who? And what is a lechuza?” Freya sat down and looked out the window.

  “The lechuza is a legendary ‘bird witch’ known to prey on men at night. She has been seen for over a hundred years. She is not just a bird witch though, she is Cora and she has come back for you.” I didn’t understand what that meant, come back for me.

  “Does she want to hurt me or help me Freya?” She shook her head and walked to the window.

  “Honestly I don’t know, the only writings I have seen tell that she will return when the curse is near its end because then she will find peace, the problem is I don’t really know if that is what she wants. The tales say that she was a monster to men while she was alive, just like her sister and she might like being a monster in her afterlife as well, and you could end that for her.” I shuttered in my seat, this thing that I saw was huge and made me feel cold just to look at it, and I couldn’t imagine it wanted to find peace.

  “We have to get everyone together, and you have to start learning about your gifts now before we find ourselves in a mess we can’t get out of.” She walked out of the room and to my surprise I saw her walk into the garden, she was talking to Israel and he quickly headed to the guest house.

  *

  “Xander come downstairs right now!” I heard him yelling and I knew that the secret of Cora was out. I threw the journal under my bed and made my way downstairs to face my father. “Were you with Delilah when she saw Cora?” I sat at the table and nodded, I hadn’t told him in the hope that I would find some answers before it got out.

  “I am sorry I didn’t tell you, but I only caught a glimpse of her. She scared Ella pretty bad so I know she got a good look at her, but as we were heading back I heard Cora’s call to the dead. Her scream was earth shattering but as far as Ella knows I still don’t know anything.” I stood up to face him; he looked at me with such disappointment in his eyes.

  “Look at me boy, do not look me in the eye and lie to me. You know what you have to do and I don’t want your feelings getting in the way do you hear me?” I never blinked as I stared at him.

  “I know what I have to do, don’t think I am not thinking about what I have to do every second of the day since she got here!” As my voice raised, my heat sped up and my palms began to sweat, I had never raised my voice to him before and he seemed just as shocked as I was to hear it.

  “As long as you know Xander, we need to meet at the house so they can begin preparing Ella for the first stage.” He walked past me and I exhaled, he turned around and held up a finger as he spoke.

  “I know it’ hard for you, and as long as you know she can be a play thing for you right now and nothing more you will be fine.” He walked out of the room before I could speak and tell him the words he feared hearing the most. I felt anger fill me, a sense of rage began at my toes and as I raised my hand, imagining his face I punched the wall, screaming. The pain was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. From the window I saw my father stop in his tracks upon hearing my rage, but he kept walking after a moment and never looked back as I made my way outside.

  *

  I walked into the parlor and Freya started yelling up the stairs and through the house.

  “You don’t have a spell to gather everyone Freya?” I asked as I watched her strain to yell.

  “Of course I do honey, but it takes longer and they know I mean business when I call them all.” I watched as my Aunts came in from the south garden, Selene began to walk down the stairs, Eris walked in from the Dining room and the front door opened revealing Israel and Xander. I was surrounded by the dream team and Freya gave me a wink.

  “See my Dear, I told you.” We all walked into the dining room and Xander sat next to me at the table. Selene conveniently sat next to him and smiled as she moved her chair closer to his. I ignored her as Freya began talking; I had nothing to worry about.

  “I know that the rest of us have had our whole lives to find our gifts and perfect them to this point, Delilah doesn’t have this luxury. Cora is here.” Gasps filled the room and both Carna and Kali looked at me with sad eyes, they knew what that meant before Freya spoke again. “Cora being here is very dangerous for Ella and we all need to work together to make sure she is ready for whatever is to be thrown at her. Cora doesn’t know that Ella hasn’t perfected her gifts yet so she is lying low and scared, just watching for now.” I looked out the window and Xander took my hand. This was certainly not what I signed up for in agreeing to come to Maine this summer.

  “How are we going to start?” Carna looked worried. “We still don’t know what gifts her mother had so how do we know where to look?” Freya smiled at her and pointed to me.

  “We are going to start by teaching her how we all surface our gifts, if she can do that we have somewhere to start.” I started to feel anxious and excited at the same time. Freya walked away and we all followed her into the music room. She asked for Israel and Xander to move the equipment so we would have room, as they walked away Selene winked at Xander and he turned his head and winked at me. I rolled my eyes at her and she blew me a kiss, before I had time to react Freya pushed me into the middle of a small circle that had formed. I was surrounded and thanked the heavens they were on my side; well most of them anyway as I looked at Selene and saw she that was looking everywhere but at me.

  “Each one of us” Freya yelled, looking directly at Selene. “Will step into the circle with Ella and we will all harness our gifts to make it easier for her to tap in.” Kali was the first to step in; she smiled at me and took my hands.

  “Don’t worry sweetie this isn’t going to hurt or anything, and with any luck we won’t need you to use them alone.” She closed her eyes and then opened them quickly, a look of panic swept her face and then I saw it, I saw what she saw and I screamed as I let go of her hands and turned to see Xander and Israel.

  “Don’t pick up that piano!” My voice echoed through the great room and both men turned to look at me. I was scared, I could see a string let go striking Israel in the neck, blood everywhere. I looked back at Kali and she was smiling.

  “That took no effort on my part at all Delilah, you really are a natural. What did you do to bring that out?” I shrugged my shoulders at her; I really had no idea what I had done. I touched her hands and the minute she saw it so did I, no trying on my part.

  “I don’t know Kali, I don’t remember doing anything.” She took a deep breath and grabbed my hands again.

  “Then this should be a snap, I knew how to do this when I was five. We are going to think of a place together and close our eyes; you need to see it clearly for it to work, ok?” I nodded and closed my eyes, and then I saw what she saw, a gorgeous forest, thick with green hues and yellow rays of the sun peeking through the branches. A large waterfall behind us sounded like a train we were so close to it, I had imagined in my life that once upon a time looked like this and now I knew it reall
y did. I could smell the flowers and feel the mist on the back of my neck as I became entranced in the beauty around me, this was the most vivid dream I had ever been in. I looked at Kali beside me and she smiled as she watched me take it all in.

  “So real isn’t it?” I smiled back and then felt the sun on my face as the clouds parted.

  “How are we feeling all of this Kali?” She picked up a flower and handed it to me.

  “You still think this is a dream Ella?” I took the flower and smelled it as my eyes closed and I felt something poke my rib really hard, I yelled and opened my eyes. Kali had just stabbed me slightly with a stick and as I reached around to see blood she stepped closer to me. “This is no dream Ella, we are here. You and I are here together and anything that happens here happens to us in life as well. You have projected yourself here with me; you are the first person to do that in my lifetime.” I felt the blood drip down my side and thought I may throw up, I was feeling so overwhelmed.

  “Kali, how do I use this?” She sat down on the grass and patted the space beside her for me to sit as well.

  “Delilah, I have used this for many reasons over the years to help people, to hurt people, seek revenge and even lust in my younger years. You are only the second Grace woman in history to be able to have this gift Honey, don’t abuse it.” She stood up and reached for my hand. We stood up and I had to ask while we were alone.

  “Kali, what will Cora do to me if I am not ready for her?” Kali squeezed my hand and pulled me in for a hug.

  “No one knows Ella, but if I had to guess she wants to hurt you and we have to make sure that doesn’t happen. None of us want you to get hurt for any reason, even if it means the curse isn’t lifted, including Selene if you can believe that one.” I rolled my eyes at her and she laughed. “She is all talk you know; she’s just been the princess her whole life and is having a hard time with the change. Eris has always been a tomboy so Selene has never had to share the spotlight, but she will come around I promise.” I gave her the best fake smile I could muster and closed my eyes, when I opened them we were in the music room and no one even knew we had left. As Kali looked at me and winked I knew that this was only the beginning for me, I was overwhelmed and overjoyed that I could possess such a gift. I looked at Freya who was all smiles.

  “This gift Ella will help you in more ways than you could ever imagine, good job ladies, now who is next?” Next, wow I was really being thrown to the lions here. I already felt tired and worn out and still had five more witches to go.

  “Delilah you are bleeding!” Carna ran into the circle as Kali walked out and as Carna put her hand on my side I felt warm and tingly all over, I looked down and the cut in my side was gone and so was the blood that had pooled on my hip. Freya suggested that Carna go next since she was in the circle.

  “Well, you know I can heal let’s see if you can my dear.” She looked around the room for something to hurt herself with when Freya lifted her arm and Carna slapped her head with her hands in pain. She dropped to the floor and I looked at Freya who motioned for me to help her, and quickly. Carna rocked back and forth on the floor holding her head. I wasn’t sure what to do, but all she did was put he hands on me, so I placed my hands on either side of head and as I did this I felt a cool sensation run up my arms and fill my body with a blast of air conditioned chill. My body and hands began to heat back up just as Carna stood on her feet with her mouth hanging open in surprise and happiness.

  “Delilah, it’s gone. My headache is actually gone, you did it.” She flashed a look at Freya, “Next time Mom how about you not try to kill me though?” Kali laughed and Carna rolled her eyes at her, you could tell they were sisters in these moments more than any others; I smiled again thinking of what my mom would be doing right now. “Now you know that I can read minds, but it’s tricky to figure out, I am going to open myself up and you try to figure out what I am thinking I can’t tell you how to do it though since I am not sure myself Hun, sorry.” I nodded and took her hands as she closed her eyes. I began to close my eyes and then stopped, that couldn’t be what she was thinking right?

  “Carna, I think I know.” She opened her eyes and smiled.

  “Already?” I nodded.

  “Are you thinking that Israel looks hot in those jeans?” Carna blushed and all the women smiled and then looked at Israel who had turned four shades of red.

  “Delilah, that’s what I was thinking before I took your hands.” So far I had been able to duplicate all of my Aunts gifts, this seemed strange since Eris and Selene didn’t have the same gifts as their mother’s but I quickly forgot about it as Carna hugged me and walked out of the circle. Eris volunteered to go next and skipped into the circle with a big smile on her face per usual. Sometimes she was a little too happy, but I guess one had to be to offset Selene’s bitch most of the time.

  “So I have two gifts, and I can only work on one with you while we are inside, but later we can work on the second. I can talk to animals and besides the beast over there.” She glanced at Selene, “I don’t see any in here.” Selene rolled her eyes and gave Eris the finger. Eris continued to talk without notice, “I can make people forget things, but only for a few minutes so if you can harness this skill you have to remember that, it only works a few minutes after what you want them to forget.” I took her hands in mine and she smiled at me, then she closed her eyes opened them and looked confused. “Why am I in the circle?” I let go of her hands as soon as the words came out. Selene and even Freya began laughing as they explained to her that it was apparent I had this gift as well because for the first time it backfired on her. We all had a good laugh and Eris even chuckled a little before leaving the circle. I looked at Freya, beginning to feel self-conscious of the fact that so far no one had stumped me.

  “Freya, what do you think it all means?” She walked into the circle.

  “One way we can find out is for you to take my hands now, one gift cannot be handed down, it is special only to me and if you have it I think it’s pretty apparent that you can take on any gift and then know how to use it. This may be the greatest gift ever given my Dear.” She held out her hands and I took them reluctantly in my own. As I closed my eyes it was hazy, and then I saw a light and a shadow of a person walking towards me. I wasn’t sure what gift this was or what I was supposed to do, but I spoke.

  “Hello? Freya is that you?” The shadow answered and I lost my breath.

  NINE

  “My beautiful Delilah, I love you and I am so proud of you for being so brave honey.” My mother’s voice echoed through my soul. I began to cry as I reached out for her. I could hear her and even see her standing before me.

  “Mom, is it really you?” She laughed and touched my face; I felt her hands on my wet cheeks. “Mom I am scared, I need you more than ever.” I just kept crying as she lifted my face so we were looking each other in the eye.

  “You have this gift my sweet, you can call for me whenever you need me, and I know that you will only use these gifts for good, I am not mad at you for coming here, you are an amazing woman and I am glad that you know our family now.” I grasped her hands as I felt her slip away from me.

  “Mom, please just stay with me, don’t leave me again please.” I held my breath as she answered me.

  “Delilah, I have never left you. I am with you every moment and I watch everything you do with pride. All you have to do is close your eyes when you need me and I am here, really here honey. You share all of the gifts that the others possess plus a few more that you will discover when you need them.” The image started to get hazier. “I love you baby duck and I am always here.” As her image faded I screamed to her.

  “I love you Mommy, I will always love you!” I opened my eyes and everyone was silent with tear streaked faces. They could hear every word spoken to my mother. I let go of Freya’s hands without looking at her, I couldn’t stop crying and before I could wipe my face I had two Aunts, a cousin and a grandmother holding me all at once, all crying, all
loving.

  “Give me a fucking break, could we all stop adoring the princess before I puke, so her mother is dead who gives a shit?” I had no time to react, Eris let go of us and jumped on Selene, the two were punching each other or it looked that way. Selene kept screaming for the dike to stop which only fueled Eris more, and to my surprise no one moved. No one tried to break them up, no one moved in to help, no one stopped it. Just stood and watched as Eris clobbered her over and over again. She finally got off Selene and walked away with a smile, as she put her arm around me and blew the strands of hair from her face.

  “Watch this Ella, you asked how to use your gifts?” She closed her eyes and I watched as Selene sat up holding her face with a look of confusion all over it.

  “What the hell happened to me?” Carna and Kali began to laugh and Eris and I walked arm and arm out of the music room, hearing Selene screaming from the floor. “What the hell guys, what happened?” As we stood around the bar in the kitchen she could still be heard. Carna looked at Eris and shook her head.

  “I am not saying that was ok, but it was a good example for Delilah.” Then she just winked at Eris. I had learned so much from each of them, and shown that I can handle it, of course I still had one witch to deal with, as she walked into the kitchen she was holding the side of her face, she slapped Eris in the shoulder and went to the freezer for some ice.

  “I know it was because of you that I can’t remember why I feel like I was run down by a truck, but will you tell me why?” She shut the freezer door and placed a large steak across her cheekbone. Eris just shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.

  “I don’t know what you are talking about Selene, maybe you should be a bit nicer and then maybe you will remember that trucks hit you when you aren’t.” Selene slumped in the stool next to me, and under her breath said something nice, so nice in fact that I had to ask her to say it again to make sure.