It was strange. I had gotten so used to magick flowing through me that right now I was feeling like a clogged drainsomething less than useless. I remembered when I had first met Cal and my magick had begun to reveal itself. Id felt frightened and off-kilter. Now I just felt. . hollow.
Before we begin, I think we should do a little meditation,Erin went on. It should clear your head and make the pain recede.
I went and dug my altar out of my closet. Erin lit the candle and the incense, and I drew a circle on the floor and turned out the overhead light. It was gray and cloudy outside, so the room was fairly dark. Dagda stalked over to the altar to investigate, sniffed everything, then dashed away at top speed. I opened the door and let him out, then sat on the floor, facing Erin, my back to the bathroom that connected my room with Mary K.s.
Erin reached out and took my hands in hers. Her fingers were cool and smooth, and the minute we touched, I felt strength and comfort flowing from her. We didnt speak, but soon I felt magick pulsing through the room.
Clear your mind. I heard the words although Erin hadnt spoken. I closed my eyes and tried to reach out. An image flashed in my brainErin standing before me in a yellow field, wearing a brilliant blue dress made of a delicate fabric, embroidered with symbols older than any I knew. Let go of the pain. Erin reached out to me, and the fabric of her ancient dress rustled in the breeze.
At her touch, the stabbing pain in my forehead dulled a bit. My head was still throbbing, but it was a muted ache. My chest lifted, and I took a deep breath of clean air. I felt infinitely better.
I smiled at her, and she smiled back.
Just then I felt something slam me in the back. I let out a startled cry and heard someone shriek behind me. I opened my eyes to see Erin falling away from me. Everything, the floor, the altar, everything was falling away. Erins grip tightened on my hands, and my arm muscles tensed as I tried desperately not to let go. For a dizzy moment I expected Erin to shout at me not to let her drop.
Oh my God! the person behind me screamed. I turned and saw it was Alisa. Her face was white and covered in a light film of sweat. She looked confused, like she wasnt quite sure where she was. But something about her orientation was wrong. She was standing, supporting herself against the door frame to the bathroom. And I was sitting, yet my face was almost level with hers.
Oh my God! she screamed again, her eyes wide with horror. That was when I understood what was happening. I was levitating.
My heart clenched in a cold fist of fear. I was going to fall! I flailed with my legs but only succeeded in kicking the bathroom door shut. My hair fell forward over my shoulders. Dont let go! I screamed to Erin. Dont let go of me! In my panic I pictured myself flattened against the ceiling of my room, crushed by the weight of reverse gravity.
Erin closed her eyes and made a low humming noise at the back of her throat. I felt myself sinking slowly, an inch, then another, toward the floor.
Alisas face was greenish white. She backed away from me, then ran toward the door that led into the hall. I heard her footsteps thudding on the stairs and saw a gray streak as Dagda dashed after her.
Whats going on? I heard Mary K. shout. Somewhere in the back of my mind it registered that her music wasnt playing anymore.
I got lower, and lower. . Finally I was only a few inches off the floor. All at once I dropped onto my jute rug in a sprawling heap.
I looked up at Erin. That wasnt me, I said.
I know, she said. I looked at her closely and realized that she was afraid.
I heard Mary K.s footsteps on the stairs, then the front door slamming. All at once there was a squeal of tires and a piercing scream.
Mary K.! I scrambled to my feet and nearly flew down the stairs, Erin right behind me. I dashed out onto the muddy front lawn and came to a stop by Mary K., who was standing perfectly still in the middle of the front walk, her hand covering her mouth. Alisas dark form was retreating down the streetshe was running home, I guessed. But that wasnt what Mary K. was looking at. I followed her gaze and saw that she was staring at a car that had stopped in front of our house. The door opened, and a heavyset woman rushed out and peered at something next to her front fender.
At first I thought that she had hit a piece of wood or some garbage in the road. Then I saw the thing move. One gray paw twitched feebly.
Dagda.
My heart clutched. The woman looked up and saw us. Help! she cried. Tears began to rain down her cheeks. Oh God, Im so sorry! I love cats. She looked at me helplessly. He just came out of nowhere.
I couldnt speak. I bent mutely over Dagda.
The woman began crying even harder. Im so sorry, she said again.
Dagdas eyes opened, then closed again. He was alive! But though there wasnt any blood on him, I could see at a glance that he was badly hurt. I tried to cast my senses, but it was no use. My magick was still reined.
My vision blurred with helpless tears. I turned around and saw Erin behind me. She bent and studied my kitten for a moment. The injuries are internal, she said. Her voice was low, but I could tell from her expression that Dagda was dying.
I didnt know what to do. I didnt want to move him for fear of causing him more pain. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I looked at him, his fur matted and soaked with gray leftover snow.
I couldnt just let him lie there, die there, in the street. I picked him up, cradling him in my arms.
Mary K. was still frozen to her spot on the front walk. Morgan, Erin said. She leaned toward Dagda, and I wanted to scream at her to get away from him, to leave him alone, but I couldnt. Her hand hovered hesitantly over Dagda, her face questioning.
Then I remembered. Erin is a healer, I thought. I could feel the movement of Dagdas tiny lungs as he labored to breathe. I started to sob wrenchingly. Could she heal him? Surely he was too far gone, even for a witchs power.
Erin squeezed my shoulder. Once again strength seemed to flow from her into me. Quiet yourself, she said gently. Dont let your emotions control you.
I took a deep breath. Then another. Erins strength flowed through my body. I said nothing as she lowered her hand and touched Dadgas head. She stroked him tenderly, with the force of a butterflys wings. Closing her eyes, she stood without moving. Time seemed to stand still, and I held my breath. I dont know how long we stood there like thatit might have been five minutes or five hours.
Dagda let out a small mew.
Oh thank God, the heavyset woman said. Oh, thank you, Lord! I thought Id killed him!
Erins face was serious. Hes badly hurt, she said, then turned to me. You should get him to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
I know a good one, I said, thinking of my aunts girlfriend, Paula Steen. Her clinic was the closest one I knew ofonly about fifteen minutes away. Thank you, I said, and Erin nodded.
I dont know why, but I turned to the heavyset woman and said, Hes going to be fine.
Bless you, she replied, which struck me as odd, but sort of sweet and strangely appropriate.
Still cradling Dagda with one arm, I pulled my keys out of my pocket and turned toward my car. Then I heard a voice call, Morgan?
It was Mary K. She looked lost. Can I come with you? she asked.
I didnt even have to think. Lets go, I said.
10. Confrontation
October 10, 1971
I finally worked up the nerve to warn my mother bout the book, but she hardly seemd interested. I told her that the powers of Wicca were starting to seem uncontrollable to meand frightening in a way that they never had before.
Mother didnt like this. She laid down her knife and told me that I was being ignorant. She made it sound like she thought I was a hystericlike those people during the witch trials. Another Harris Stonghton.
I told her that I had some good reasons to be freaked out, but she just that she didnt want to hear it. She said that we were responsible witches and that we had a right to our beliefs.
Just at that very momentI mean exactly as she said thatthe silverware drawer flew out. It just flew right out of the cabinet and landed on the floor with a clatter. Then an icy wind blew through the room and the cabinet doors burst open.
Get down! Mother yelled as the plates flew out and hurtled the wallcrash crash crash!
I screamed and screamed until the cupboard was empty. I screamed until my mother picked herself off the floor and took me by the shoulder. She shook me, but my scream went on and on until I couldnt scream anymore.
Then Mother held me and told me that everything would be all right. But I dont believe her.
There is dark magick in this house. For a while I thought it was the book itself that was responsible, but I know its impossible. Its just a book. It may be full of evil, but it cant actually make things happen.
I can hardly bear to think it, but I have to. Could Sam be behind it?
Sarah Curtis
May I help you? the woman behind the desk asked as I rushed into the veterinary clinic. She was middle-aged with dyed blond hair and looked bored.
Im here to see Paula, I said in a rush. Dr. Steen.
Do you have an appointment? the receptionist asked.
No, I Just then Mary K. walked in with Dagda in her arms. The woman took one look at Dagda and said, Come with me.
We followed her down a long white hallway and into a small room. Just a minute. The woman hurried out of the room. Barely a minute had passed before Paula walked in.
Morgan! She looked surprised and pleased. Mary K.! A quick glance at Dagda and her smile evaporated. What happened? she asked.
He was hit by a car, I said as Mary K. laid Dagda gently on the steel table at the center of the room. Dagda struggled to get up but couldnt.
Paula pursed her lips. She palpated Dagdas ribs and stomach gently. Then she touched his left foreleg and frowned. This needs an X-ray, she said.
Is he going to be all right? Mary K. asked nervously.
Paula looked at her and smiled reassuringly. This is one lucky kitty, she said. I think his leg is broken. He might have to hobble around on a cast for a while, but all things considered, thats pretty minor.
I exhaled with relief. Thats great news, I said.
Why dont you guys wait outside while I take the X-ray? she suggested. If we do have to put a cast on, we may have to sedate him. It could take a little while.
I threw myself into one of the large, comfortable chairs in the waiting room while Mary K. went outside to the pay phone to let our parents know where we were. I was glad we had come here. I didnt know where the receptionist was, but she was no longer behind her desk. I was alone in the waiting room as the sky outside grew from pink to dusky gray and the shadows disappeared.
What had happened today? I dug a hand into my pocket, remembering the feeling of the door slamming into my back, the fear as I left the ground, Alisas screams. Thank the Goddess that Erin was there, I thought. She saw everything. She knows I couldnt have levitated myself. Especially not with my power restrained the way it is.
But then, who did it?
There was a sudden blast of cold air as Mary K. stepped back into the clinic. I finally reached Mom, she reported. She said she hopes Dagdas okay and shes glad we thought to go to Paula.
Thanks, Mary K., I said.
I called Alisa, too, Mary K. said, sliding into the seat next to mine. But her dad said shes too sick to come to the phone. Mary K.s voice told me that she wasnt exactly sure this story was true. She looked at me sideways. What happened in there? she asked. Why did she run out of our house?
I sighed. Im really not sure. It was the truth. Im not sure why she came bursting into my room in the first place.
Mary K. shrugged. She wasnt feeling great. Maybe she just got confused which door was which.
I thought about Alisas face, distorted in fear. She doesnt like me.
She doesnt know you, Mary K. replied. After a moment she added, And you dont know her.
Something in her tone of voice made me look at her. What do you mean? I asked.
Mary K. sighed. Its justAlisas going through some pretty rough family things right now. Shes not. . not at her best.
I sank back into the chair, wondering what was going on with Alisa. But Mary K. clearly didnt want to tell me, and I didnt want to press her for details. Suddenly I felt guilty for not reaching out to Alisa more. It was obvious that she was troubled and that probably the animosity she felt toward me didnt really have anything to do with me.
Still, at least she had a friend like Mary K. Someone who didnt give up secrets easily. Someone who cared. I gave my sister a sideways look, loving her. I really hoped we could get past the trouble we were having now.
Paula came out with Dagda in her arms. He was wearing a small cast on his foreleg, which stuck out awkwardly from the rest of his limbs. Here you go, Paula singsonged. Good as newor almost. Hes a little out of it from the sedation, but thatll wear off by morning.
I rushed over, and Paula handed Dagda to me. He stirred in my arms, and Mary K. scratched him behind the ears. Thank you so much, Paula, I said. Dagdas breathing was perfectly normal, and he didnt seem to be in any pain. And thank you, Erin, I added silently.
Its just a fracture. Youll need to come back in two weeks so we can check on his progress, Paula said. But I think well be able to take the cast off then.
We said good-bye, and I handed Dagda to Mary K. so I could drive. On the way home Mary K. asked, Who was that woman who was at the house today? She was the same one you were at the library with, right?
I winced. I should have seen this question coming. Shes a tutor.
And a witch, right? Mary K. asked.
Anyone who has been initiated into a coven is a witch, I replied, figuring that a half-truth is better than no truth at all.