2 comments/ 15901 views/ 3 favorites The Spell of Salacity By: Dingus Guy Chapter 1 Traci looked over at her friend Harmony and then back to the girls in the field. One of the girls was Harmony's older sister, Dawn. Dawn and her 4 other friends were raking the Autumn leaves away from a sparse section of earth not too far away from Glebner's Park. It was Harmony's idea to follow the girls ever since Traci had overheard Dawn on the phone a week before. Now they hid in the woods, in the light of the day, within spying distance. The phone call was not accidentally overheard as Traci was led to believe. Harmony often picked up the phone and held her hand over the muzzle and listened to Dawn's conversations whenever she could. Harmony found it an art to play spy on her family. She hid in closets, under beds and even entertained the idea to slip into the cabinet under the sink; at least until she smacked her nose against the pipe, then all bets were off. She loved to be in the know. Soaking up information like a sponge, she wrote down all she heard on a memo pad she kept under her mattress. Often this new knowledge was useless drivel, but sometimes she used it for her own gain. There was one time when Harmony overheard her parents discussing a private school for her. It was the last thing she wanted, so that night, she told her parents that one of her teachers was recommending her to be class president. She further explained how much she was loved by the teachers and they thought she would represent her school and her fellow students proudly. This of course was eaten up by her parents and later on while hiding in their closet, Harmony was relieved to hear that the new school issue was dead and buried. She of course never made class president, nor did the school have a class president for 8-year olds. Harmony had informed Traci that her sister Dawn was going to do something involving a sacrifice of some kind. They mentioned the date, time and place, but since Dawn and her friend knew the specifics, they just talked in generalities. This left Harmony to speculate with Traci. At first Harmony surmised that it was just some sorority thing she was being told to do. Dawn had been in the Sorority for a year now, but they might be doing something to the new pledges this year. Harmony had found out that pledges were girls who applied to be members of the sorority and had to undergo various challenges. Once their pledging was over the pledges became Sisters. Harmony found it extremely fascinating at the time she had eavesdropped on her Mother's and Dawn's phone conversations. It seemed that their Mother was also a Sister in the same sorority. They called it a chapter which had confused the young girl. The girls had planned on joining Dawn and her friends or Sisters or whatever they were called as soon as Harmony mentioned the sacrifice to Traci. Since it was the Saturday before Halloween, the girls used the excuse that they were having a costume sleep over at another friends house that night. Their parents were more than happy to get rid of them for the night. Later on when they came home, they would use the excuse that they got a little sick and got dropped off. Another ingenious idea Harmony had was that they both would be dressed in army fatigues posing as soldiers. This would hide them well in the bushes and trees of the woods. "I wish we could hear what they were saying?" Harmony stated moving a branch to the side so she could see better. "I am more curious about why they are raking leaves," Traci replied. "It seems they are making a huge circle," Harmony said. "Yeah, it does look like a circle. Maybe it's just part of the sacrifice." "My sister is wearing all white. I never seen her dressed like that. The other girls seem to be just wearing ordinary clothes." "Your sister also seems to be telling the others what to do. She isn't raking anything." "I saw that," Harmony responded. "It seems that she is in charge of the pledges. I guess the other girls who are in the sorority will be here soon." "In the meantime," Traci announced, reaching into her backpack and pulled out some foiled-wrapped pop tarts, 2 small bag of chips, and fruit box drinks with the little curved straws. She winked at Harmony and her friend returned a smile. Traci and Harmony had been friends since 1st grade and became inseparability best friends after that. Traci loved her like a sister because she had no siblings up to this point, and wasn't sure if her parents were going to ever have anymore. Traci loved to come over Harmony's house as much as possible and often ate dinner with her family. Harmony's parents had kids 11 years apart. They were still were madly in love, and treated Traci as one of their own. Traci's parents were a source of constant bickering, and it was those times she felt invisible. It was too different worlds. In Harmony's world she was noticed, and Harmony's Mother and Sister formed a girlish bond she was drawn to. They never looked at her as an 8-year old child, but as an equal friend whose thoughts and ideas were of merit. It was something Traci cherished when they asked her opinion on things. In fact, the kitchen wallpaper was chosen because Traci liked it the best when they went shopping. Anytime she was in the kitchen it reminded her how this felt more like home than her own. The girls were growing bored with the scene unfolding in front of them. A little while ago, a group of 7 more girls showed up at the clearing. 2 of the girls were carrying a young, skinny tree, 2 more were carrying a group of garden tools consisting of shovels, hoes and other odds and ends. The last 3 girls were dressed as Dawn was, in all white. The only thing they carried were velvet pouches the size of a small hand bag. The working girls stopped their raking and helped with the next phase, digging a hole while some of the other girls made a circle out of small, purplish rocks. The girls in white barked orders while they started to pull various items out of the satchels. Traci strained to see what it was, but even with Harmony's binoculars, it was blocked from their view. Now the girls yawned in frustrated exhaustion as they sat still and waited for something interesting to happen. Time ticked on by as the sun set and the darkness closed around them. The night air was getting a bit chilly and the girls had not really thought of warmer clothing. They watched the pledges mass a pile of dirt outside the circle next to the hole that was dug. They moved the tree into position and hoisted it together into the hole. After the tree was placed in the hole the pledges filled it back up with the loose dirt. They made sure it was firmly in place before they moved on to the next project. Gathering all the tools they walked away from the clearing, leaving the 4 sisters in white behind. After a while the pledges returned wearing white clothes as well. They were followed by a taller hooded figure dressed similarly. The four Sisters in white now placed their own hoods on as the taller, hooded figure approached them. All the pledges had the hoods down until they reached the circle where upon Dawn approached each one and pulled their hoods over their heads, obscuring their faces from view. Each of these girls carried a bag or two with them and promptly were instructed to place them down, away from the circle. Several large wooden bowls and silver-colored goblets were removed from some of the bags. Bowls were organized in two rows of four. Traci and Harmony waited to see what else was removed but the scurrying of girls cast shadows from the moonlight and they couldn't see much of anything for the moment. It appeared that the tallest Sister of the five standing was directing the action. Orders were given and they were thus relayed to the pledges. The pledges moved around the whole area preparing for what was to happen next. Several place mats were dropped around the circle and a small cushion on top of that. Things seemed to be slowing down as the girls in white told their pledges to stop their work. They sat around the purple rock circle. Each pledge had her own place mat and pillow. A bowl and cloth was placed in front of each girl within the circle. They were instructed that they were to wash their faces and hands of the dirt that had accumulated during their last bit of work. As soon as that was done, those bowls were replaced by another bowl. This too was placed within the circle. It had various fruits and vegetables for the girls to eat. A silver goblet was placed to the left of each bowl and then was promptly filled with a reddish liquid. Presumably wine, the girls surmised as they whispered to each other. "Notice how the moon lights up the entire area," Harmony declared. "It's a full moon too," Traci countered. "Those purple rocks are probably amethysts too," Harmony added. "You see how they glisten in the moon light?" "I have heard of that. It's a type of birthstone on the calendar we have in our kitchen. You're probably right about that. I wonder why they used that rock to make the circle." "I bet it doesn't mean a thing. It just looks fancy. Its nothing more than a prop." "A prop?" Traci questioned. "Maybe that isn't the word I meant," Harmony answered. "I just think its there for the effect. Kind of like when you go to the circus and they have the drum roll in the background when some dangerous trick is about to happen. The drum roll isn't part of the act, but it enhances the trick." "Oh, I get you now," Traci replied. "You just think that getting some pretty shiny rocks that captures the moonlight makes the pledges believe that something cool is going to happen. Right?" "Exactly, my good little spy friend, exactly," Harmony agreed. Harmony and Traci watched the pledges eat. They felt their own stomachs ache for some nourishment. They were not prepared to be out here the length of time that they had been so far. It was really boring too, and they were getting exhausted sitting there as the hours passed on by. They had arrived at 4PM and now it was closing in on 10 o'clock. The leading Sister was directing the other sisters including Dawn. Because of the hoods, they soon lost track of Dawn because she just looked like the other girls. Every now and then, guessing by her height or mannerism they thought they could spot her, but it was difficult to know for sure. It seemed that the pledges were told to place the tool and the block of wood on their laps because they all did so at the same time. The small block was approximately the size of a paperback book. Suddenly the leading Sister, the tall one, walked towards the inner circle. Harmony put a finger to her lips and hissed a little to Traci who was repeatedly snapping an empty tic-tac box opened and closed. Harmony got her attention and pointed at the gathering. Something was finally going down. The girls smiled at each other in excited anticipation. Walking around the girls and the circle, the white hooded figure came upon the thin tree. She slid her hand along the surface and tied a red ribbon about halfway up the tree's length. Continuing around the circle once more she stood at the opposite end of the circle. One of the Sisters met her and handed over a lit red candle in a semi-clear crystal holder. She placed it just within the circle directly across from the skinny tree. She proceeded to the right, behind the girls. From beneath her white robe she produced a feather. Bending over, she laid the feather gently down on the earth within the circle approximately a quarter away from the tree. She then moved swiftly back towards the candle and one of the other Sisters met her there again carrying a large wooden bowl. The bowl was handed to her and she continued onward to the left side of the circle where she laid the bowl slowly to the earth. The girls looked on from the woods, but couldn't see what was in the bowl. It was just too dark, even with all the moonlight. The other four Sisters gathered at different points within the circle, in between the blind-folded pledges. The leader stood facing the tree, also within the circle. She raised her hands up to the sky holding what looked like a black-handled knife. It was hard for the girls to hear as the woman finally spoke aloud. "I call the energies of stability, prosperity and fertility." She moved clockwise around the circle as did the other Sisters. When the leading Sister stopped they all did staying at the same distance apart the whole time. She stopped at the feather on the ground, looked up towards the heavens again and said, "I call the forces of freshness, communication and wise council." She stood still for a minute as the wind bristled her white robe. She seemed to be doing something with the knife in the air. She was aiming it towards the ground as moved it around the circle. It looked like she was just cutting the air in a circular motion. Finally the Sisters moved again. Bending down to the flame of the candle, the tall woman beckoned, "I call the energies of transformation, love and healing." She hesitated briefly before continuing on to the wooden bowl. She lowered her left hand- the one without the knife- and plunged it into the bowl, and it made an unmistakable water splashing sound. She then announced, "I call the energies of purification, transformation and gentle movement." "I bet that was water," Traci whispered to her friend. Harmony agreed by shaking her head in the affirmative. They watched as the white Sisters moved back to their original starting spots within the Circle. This time the leading Sister faced the circle. "I think that my Sister is a little weirder than I ever thought," Harmony stated quietly. "Why are they making such a big deal about this? The pledges can't even see what was happening?" Before Traci could respond, the Sister in charge spoke again, "From the soil to the stone, from the wind-swept sky. From the flaming powers cone, to the water's sweet cry. I now call blended force of elemental power, come here from your primal source, be here in this hour!" The wind seemed to pick up a notch as the trees whistled around them. Traci and Harmony exchanged curious glances at each other. The woman continued, but she spoke to the pledges directly. "With the betula pendula a tribute you will create, fashioned from the mind once a blank slate. Whittle down the harsh realities we caste away, give into your heart and don't stray. My words are your eyes and from this you will see, a sacred blessing that is wiccan it is to be." "She said wiccan," Harmony whispered softly to Traci. The lady continued with her poetic verses as the pledges around the circle began to carve the block of wood with their tool. "So?" Traci asked. "So?" Harmony repeated sarcastically. "Wiccan is associated with witches." "No way," Traci gasped. "Shhh," Harmony scolded her friend, looking back towards the circle making sure they weren't discovered by her friend's sudden outburst. "Sorry," Traci apologized. She whispered quietly, "You just caught me off guard. You think Dawn is a witch?" "Maybe. I am starting to think so. She has been very secretive since joining that so-called fraternity. She called it a Sisterhood, but she might have been referring to a Sisterhood of witches." "What do you know about witches besides the black cats and flying broomsticks?" "That is horse phooey," Harmony interjected. "Remember it is the night before Halloween." Traci countered. "I don't know about you, but I think this is way cool. Harm, you got a witch for a sister." "Maybe," Harmony muttered quietly. Thoughts were cascading through her mind like a waterfall. She was going over everything in the past year, and it seemed the more she recalled, the more she was led to believe that Dawn was a witch. Last Halloween Dawn came through the door of the house very cheerfully. She never said why when asked, but Harmony did notice a wooden object in her hand. She tried to look for it the next day, but it wasn't there, so she put it out of her mind. Around the Christmas holidays Harmony listened to a conversation in the kitchen with their Mother. Harmony was hoping to find out what gifts would be under the tree this year. Instead Dawn was reciting a poem about rebirth and it wasn't about baby Jesus. It was mostly gibberish from what Harmony thought. She spoke of a tree and healing and Dawn told their Mother that she was nervous about reading it. Harmony got bored fast not getting the information she wanted and she just walked into the kitchen. Dawn folded the poem which was written on some old parchment into her pocketbook, and they both greeted her as if no conversation was going on. Harmony went to the refrigerator for a drink and walked away innocent of the whole ordeal. There was one other time when Harmony found an old book called, "The Book of Shadows" in Dawn's night table. It looked like an old diary from 1000 years ago. She was going to look at it, but Dawn had come upstairs so she put it away and hid under the bed. The next time she looked it was gone. She forgot all about it until now. Thinking about it now, Harmony thought perhaps it was some kind of witch's almanac or bible. An idea flashed in her head. "I'm thinking," Harmony began, "we need to take a trip to the library tomorrow for some research." "On Halloween?" Traci objected. "Yes," Harmony answered, "there is no better time. The library will be empty of kids and there won't be any classmates that might ask us what we are doing in the library on Halloween." "True, but don't you want to go trick or treating?" "We have plenty of time for that," Harmony argued. "Besides witches are what Halloween is all about. I would love to corner Dawn and question her about this, but I will let her have…" Harmony stopped talking and stared out at the inner circle where the women were removing their hoods one by one. Traci followed her gaze and stared in amazement as Harmony's Mother stood tall in the circle as the leader of the Sisterhood. The pledges removed their blindfolds, entered the circle and drank from their goblets. "I can't believe it," Harmony whispered to herself. "Hey, at least she is a good witch," Traci added amusingly. Harmony was too stunned to comment. She waved at Traci to leave the area while they were celebrating in the circle. "Harm, they didn't have the sacrifice yet," Traci mentioned. "I think the sacrifice was just the ceremony or something. I had enough tonight Trace, let's get out of here. At least I know no one is home." "Where's your Dad?" Traci asked. "He's away on business," Harmony stated. Then there was a flash of bright light around the circle and as the light dimmed, only the circle remained. Both of the young girls gasped and stared in disbelief. Then a moment later a flicker of light like a firefly would shine for a brief time held the visage of dancing naked women. Harmony saw her mother and sister dancing freely with their arms waving to and fro in the air. Then they were gone. The scene repeated itself every other minute with the women in new positions still dancing to no music that could be heard. On the fourth flash of light, Harmony stood to get a better look, when her mother stopped her prancing around and locked eyes with her daughter. Her face was expressionless, but it was enough for Harmony to kneel back behind the bushes as the light dimmed once more. Harmony didn't want them to be caught so she instructed Traci to clean up their stuff, so they could make a hasty retreat ASAP The girls retreated out of the woods unseen and returned to their homes for the night speculating what they had witnessed. Thinking that they had seen more than they bargained for, the girls had not seen it all. The sacrifice was unfolding at the midnight hour. The young pledges would never be the same again. All Hallow's Eve had begun. The Spell of Salacity Chapter 2 The next day, Harmony had a normal chat with Dawn and their mother over breakfast. There was no mention of the previous nights strange initiations. They just chatted about Harmony's fictitious sleep over and how a bellyache had ended her fun. Harmony knew to keep it as simple as possible. Even with the most creative of schemes, the problem was remembering all the details. Traci came to the door dressed as a baseball player, her Halloween costume. She was invited to join them for some breakfast, but she was waved off by Harmony who said they had to meet some friends. Harmony quickly put on her own costume, that of Barney the purple dinosaur. Barney was very popular with the kids and it seemed everyone her age watched Barney on TV. Harmony was pretty thrilled to have gotten the opportunity to be her favorite TV star. As soon as Harmony was ready they made their way to the library. Once there they searched the library computer to find books on witches. They found two sections where most of the books were at. The first aisle they found books on wicca, witch covens and some history stuff about Salem, Massachusetts, a town renown for witch lore. Grabbing a mix of different books they made a pile in a table in the corner where they had stored their costumes for the time being. The next aisle was a little more interesting. They found books dedicated to odd things such as werewolves, vampires, ghosts, demons and a few other strange creatures of the night. The girls also found that in some of the books here, satanic rituals and wiccan spells had some connection. It seemed a star called a pentagram was used in a circle to cast spells. These books were a little more interesting because it dealt with witches as mystical and powerful entities. They thumbed through a few books trying to decide which was the best of the lot, when Traci found a rather old thin book on the bottom shelf, barely noticeable between the larger collections. It was called, "Book of Shadows". Sitting on the floor with books scattered around them, the 8-year olds opened the book, but the pages were old and yellowed. The book was almost written like a diary, in fact, the girls thought it was a journal of some kind. How the book ever found its way here was a mystery. There was no library due card in the back, nor any reference number on the binder. No library stamp on any of the loose pages. From what they could tell, the book was not a library book at all. Looking through it, they saw rhymes, but it was more riddle than anything they could decipher. Everything was written like that with various symbols and pictures hand written that were unfamiliar to the girls. They kept turning the pages when a slip of folded parchment fell out of the book. It was quite old and very much similar to the look of the declaration of independence. It was written in red ink, and at the top of the page in plain english was the words, "The Spell of Salacity". The parchment went on to describe a circle with a pentagram, and had a poem to speak aloud on the night of a full moon. There was a short list of items they had to have to finish the ritual. "You thinking what I am thinking?" Harmony asked. "No way," Traci rebuffed her best friend. "Listen, we got a gift here, and it has fallen right in our laps. We can't just let it go to waste. The moon is still full, we can go back once the sun sets, work around the tree where they were and try it out and see what happens. Come on Trace." "I don't know," Traci sighed. "We can have a blast," Harmony argued. "It's Halloween, what better time to play witch than to do it now? Please Trace, I really want to do this with you. Don't make do it alone." Traci rolled her eyes and shook her head as to indicate her indecisiveness. She was going to speak when Harmony interrupted her. "I bet when we are older we are going to look back on this and laugh. I know you want to play witch with me. I can see it in your eyes. You are just afraid of what might happen." "That's right," Traci agreed. "Who knows what might happen. Do you know what salacity even means?" "We can look it up. Who cares? It probably won't work. Look at the item list, we might not be able to get all the things anyway. I am just saying let's give it a try. See what happens." "So what is first on the list?" Traci asked wryly. "Trick-or-Treat of course," Harmony smiled. "We can't go home empty-handed, and I need some chocolate." The girls giggled aloud before the librarian shushed them quiet in the empty cavernous library. They started to giggle again at that very thought. They returned with a sizable bag of candy. The girls ran upstairs to dump the candy and make arrangements for the night's festivities. Having Halloween fall on a Sunday this year was fun, but they had school tomorrow so they had to have a good excuse to leave the house after the sun went down. Traci's parents wouldn't really care as long as she said she was with Harmony and her family. Harmony on the otherhand needed an excuse. So the plan was made and executed. There was a haunted house show after sundown at one of their neighbors houses and they were being driven by their other friend Kathy's Dad. Mr. McKenzie was a nice man and Harmony's Mom would have no problem with that. "You know you are very good at this lying thing," Traci remarked. "I got to be good at something, right" Harmony laughed. "You shouldn't lie so much, it might get you in trouble one day." "Ah, whatever," Harmony shrugged off. "Okay let's look at the list and see if you have it in the house somewhere," "I know my Mom and Sister are big into candles," Harmony stated. "They have a bag full of them in the basement. I will just have to look for them. I will take my laundry downstairs and she will think we are doing laundry." "On Halloween?" Traci questioned as she unfolded the parchment on Harmony's bed. "She will be happy enough that I am doing it, but we can wait until the next time the doorbell rings for trick-or-treaters." "Good idea," Traci agreed. She tapped a finger on the picture and said, "We also need to write that upsidedown star on purple cloth. It doesn't say what kind of cloth, but it just has to big enough for all the people doing the spell to sit on. You have any kind of…" Traci stopped and stared at Harmony's costume and smiled. Harmony understood right away. "If I can't find anything in the house first then we can slice Barney up. I am not cool with losing my Halloween costume for a spell that might not work." "You planning on wearing Barney two years in a row?" Traci asked. She found the idea very funny, and she laughed in response to her question. "I guess not," Harmony giggled. "There are numbers here on how the star symbol has to be drawn. It says there are seven points of the pentagram." "That must be the symbol," Harmony announced. "Yeah that's it. We have to write this symbol with red or black candle wax. Who has a black candle?" "We can check," Harmony said, "but I wouldn't think they had any until last night. Who knows now?" "True," Traci agreed. "It doesn't mention anything about the wood carving thing, but it does have the bowl of water, but it has to be in a wooden bowl made out of birch. Why birch?" "I don't know, but we will use the wooden bowl we have and hope it is made of wood." "How are we going to do this spell if we don't have the right stuff?" Traci asked. "Either way it will be fun to play witch for a night," Harmony countered. "Okay," Traci said continuing to read off the parchment, "so we need to find some salt, incense, will that be a problem?" "No," Harmony said. She was begininng to realize how there was a connection to witchcraft that she never knew existed even with all her spying. How could she have overlooked it? There must be some secret stash she had not uncovered yet. "Next we need a red ribbon it says for protection. Protection from what?" "Maybe its just to make the spell work who knows. They wrapped one around the tree yesterday remember?" "Yeah, true. Maybe its still there?" "Could be, but we should look for one anyone in the basement." "Is everything in the basement?" Traci laughed. "Pretty much," Harmony smiled. "What else do we need that might be a problem?" "What is an athame? We need one of those too." "I don't know," Harmony replied puzzled. "Let's look it up in the dictionary," Traci offered. "Good idea," Harmony replied. Harmony went to her closet and grabbed a small dictionary her Mom had bought as a present. Harmony had ofter read books and came across words she didn't understand, but the dictionary helped. She thumbed quickly through it, but the word did not appear. "It's not here," Harmony announced. "Now what?" Traci inquired. "What does it say to do with it?" Harmony asked. "Let me see," Traci said, looking back at the parchment. "It says you take the athame and draw in the air a circle going clockwise around your body where your circle will be, as you do you say something. Nothing in those words to give a hint." "So it could be anything, rats." Harmony proclaimed. "Maybe we should forget the whole thing." "No, we can substitute something. I'll just use my finger or a twig or something. Come on Trace don't give up on me now." "I'm with you Harm, all the way," Traci reassured. "Okay, hmmm it says we should wear black clothes. They all wore white yesterday; what is up with that?" "Small stuff," Harmony countered. "I will let you borrow my clothes, I have black shirts and sweats and jeans. I will even let you pick first." "Solid," Traci said. "You think we will have fun?" "Trace, it will be a night we won't forget." The friends gave a high five to each other and went over the rest of the list. After a while they went to the basement. They found more than needed there including a black and red candle, so they took them both. They found a bag for what Harmony thought could have been for last night. It contained a feather, a wooden bowl and some goblets. They also found some different colored ribbons. Including red, the one they wanted. They would have to get scissors to cut it later. They could also use it to cutup the Barney costume since there was nothing for the purple cloth. They just needed some salt upstairs and they had it all. Except of course the athame. After telling her mother all about the plans for the evening, they left for more trick-or-treating. In their Halloween bags they placed the things they needed including the scissors to make Barney into an altar of sorts. The only thing they neglected was the red ribbon which they noticed as soon as they got to the clearing before sunset. Chapter 3 "Harm, it says it is for protection" Traci argued. "Look, we don't have the athame, whatever that is. We are using a purple dinosaur for our purple cloth. We are using a wooden bowl made out of unknown wood. Not to mention salt from a salt shaker. We are only having fun here. It would be real cool to see something happen, but I doubt anything will happen. If we get a puff of smoke I will go nuts." The girls laughed and they continued to place all the items in their proper place. They took off their costumes and had all black jeans and t-shirts underneath as was part of the spell rules. It wasn't too cold yet, but if they got cold they had brought light jackets with them. Cutting up the costume, they made a mess of it, but Traci was good enough to flatten it out despite the tears of the cheap clothe. When everything was done it was dark out, and they looked around the area and all was clear. The candles were lit in their proper place. Traci read the instructions and Harmony performed the various tasks. She used a small branch she found in the woodsy area of the park in place of the athame. Peeling off the bark, she was pleased that she had a wand of sorts. "Okay," Traci began, "this is where we use the athame to draw the circle in the air. You move your finger in the air in a circle going clockwise around your body where the circle is intended to be and you say this…" She handed Harmony the parchment and pointed to the small paragraph she was to read. She moved her head up and down and gave Traci the okay sign. Then she spoke: "Maiden, cast your circle white Weave a web of healing light. Mother, cast your circle red Weave the strands of family threads Enchantress, cast your circle green Weave the fiber of worlds between Old Crone, cast your circle black Weave the wisdom that we lack. From the East to South, and North to West; I call you to attend and bless. To brew my spells and honor you well; With hands steadfast, this Circle is cast." "That's good," Traci remarked. "Now we set the altar and the pentastar." "You mean pentagram," Harmony corrected. "Yeah, pentagram. It's got five points with the top point in the south. It looks upside down in the picture to make sure you know where the southern point goes. We use the black or red candle to make the pentragram with the wax drippings. It says to go slow and gives you a diagram to how you are to make it. I will hold the purple clothe down while you drip the candle. "Wait a minute. It says we have to drip our blood into the center of the circle. I ain't doing that." "I didn't see that before," Harmony chimed in. "Neither did I. Didn't you read it before?" "I guess I just skimmed it over, trying to make sure we had all the stuff for the spell." "Well, now what?" "What if we just drip a little blood?" "You got to be kidding me Harm?" "No, I think it's no big deal, really. I got a scab on my knee, I'll just pick it and I should be able to wipe off some blood in the center of the star." "You're a retard," Traci chastised and started laughing at her friend. "Should I pop the zit on my chin? I could get up some zit juice. Ha ha ha!" "Yeah, pop it." "You are sick, I was joking." "No really, you will get some blood from that." "Harm this has gone too far girl. I am not doing that." "Please, for me," Harmony begged. "I really don't want to pick my zit. I will end up with a scar." "No you won't, come on Trace, for me, please? It's ready to pop anyway." "You owe me big time girl," Traci said. "You got it!" Harmony happily agreed. After the pentagram was finished the girls moved about trying to finish off the altar on which they were to begin. Placing all the materials in their proper places and order, they were ready to start the actual spell reading. "You know we had the dictionary open and forgot to look up the word salacity," Traci said. "Oh man, I completely forgot about it," Harmony responded. "It would be nice to have some clue as to what we are casting." "True. Maybe it's a love spell, and you will fall in love with crusty old Mr. Ash, the Vice Principal." "Ha-ha, very funny," Traci laughed sarcastically. "Maybe it's a spell to make you clean my room." "I think it's a spell that might you smell better." "Maybe it's a spell to give you a brain…finally." Traci put both hands on her hips, shrugged her shoulders, tilted her head, rapidly tapped her foot and gave her best pissed off look. The girls broke out laughing. "Ahem," Traci said mockingly clearing her throat. "Are we going to do this or we going to wait until the sun comes up again? We are wasting very good candy eating time you know?" "Okay Piglet," Harmony responded, "give me the spell." "What's the magic word?" Traci teased. "I think it's more than one word. Let's see, hmmm…Traci has nose zits?" "Wrong again diaperpants. It hasn't changed it is still Harmony drools." "Well aren't I smart today." Harmony said. "When did this start? You must have been taking brain pills or something." "Don't make me hurt you," Harmony warned. "Bring it on tubby," Traci replied. "Tubby? Who you calling tubby, lardbutt?" "At least my butt isn't as big as your head. It looks like one of those floats in a parade." "Ha, good one! Now give me the spell, loser." Traci handed over the parchment as Harmony playfully swiped it from her. "Okay, it says that the spell must be cast extra…extra ne o usly. Extraneously. Extraneously to the circle," Harmony shook her head, pretty much butchering the word. She asked Traci to pronounce it, but she had the same difficulty. Neither one of them knew the word's meaning and it made things more confusing. "Well the word extra is kind of like more than, so maybe we are to do more stuff in the circle. What you think?" "More of what?" Harmony asked. "God if I know," Traci replied. "It's probably just for something like being really into the spell casting within the circle." "It doesn't say within the circle, it says to the circle," Traci argued. "Yes, I think I got it. Let me read it again. The spell must be cast extraneously to the circle. Then it says, the candle must burn at the center of the altar while the spell is read aloud. So, I think if we are to do the spell, we must be in the center by the star with the candle. I think extraneously means center of the circle. Extraneously to the circle. Center to the circle. It seems to fit." "I like it Harm. You are smarter than you look." "Don't start. Let's get serious." "Gee whiz, give a girl a compliment and she becomes a teacher." "Ha," Harmony giggled. "Okay brat, let's begin." "Ready Freddy," Traci agreed. "Let me light the candle." Traci passed the lit black candle to Harmony and she went to the center of the circle at the alter of the star on the purple cloth. She leaned towards the bowl which was now filled with water. Holding the candle over it she spoke: "I bring destiny to this circle With the Spirit of this water; I add this magick of love And complete the rites to order." Traci grabbed the salt shaker and waited for the next spoken phrase. She held it over the water. Harmony continued: "I bring energy to this circle With the Spirit of the Earth; I add this magick of love And surrender it from birth." Traci sprinkled the salt into the bowl of water. She placed that down and grabbed the incense and lit the tip of it. A nice smell of jasmine filled the air. She placed it over the water. Harmony continued: "I bring essence to this circle With the Spirit of the Air; I add this magick of love And welcome you to my lair." The unlit tip of the incense was placed into the water carefully so it didn't slide all the way in. Harmony then leaned the candle over the bowl and read further: "I bring strength to this circle With the Spirit of Fire I add this magick of love And with it we will not tire." Harmony dripped the wax into the bowl. She looked up at Traci and she gave Harmony a nod to stop, so she placed the candle onto the altar within the star. Pointing to her chin she confirmed it was time for Traci to pop her zit and Harmony to pick the scab on her knee. Traci shook her head, but for her friend she grimaced at the pain as she plucked at her chin until their was liquid then blood on her finger. There was more blood than she expected and she leaned over the center of the pentagram and dripped her blood there. Harmony was quickly joining her as her knee dripped surprisingly too. Traci pointed to the parchment and Harmony read on: Chapter 4 "I bring life to this circle With the Spirit of the Mind I add this majick of love And in words together we bind." The girls felt the ground shake and then a gust of wind swirled around them. They tried to remain standing but quickly lost balance and fell to the ground. Traci held a worried look upon her face and although Harmony too felt the same anxiety, she was more intrigued than anything else. A wisp of black smoke suddenly surrounded the outer edge of the circle. They tried to see beyond, but their vision was obscured. Harmony with the parchment still in her hand, tapped it at Traci to get her attention. They had failed to say the last verse. The Spell of Salacity Traci understood immediately, sat up and shifted her position, and moved closer to Harmony. She felt a desire to run away, but remembered her promise and smiled weakly at her friend. She looked around at the black smoke trying in vain to see anything. The wind didn't help either, but at least it didn't whip any dirt around. Their hair was flowing freely behind them as they sat there watching the spectacle in front of them. "This is incredible," Harmony announced. "I am a little scared Harm," Traci admitted. "We got to finish. Why don't you read the last part with me Trace?" Harmony said. "I guess. Sure, hold it between us." Traci leaned over to the parchment Harmony held out for them to read, and with a nod of her head they read it aloud together once more: "Earth and air, water and fire, Let my magic reach higher and higher. Mine is the magick. Mine is the power. It's time to know the answer this enchanted hour. With harm to none, as I will it shall be done. May the words of this spell not reverse, Or place upon the caster any kind of curse. So mote it be." As the last words were spoken a creature appeared before them. It had four legs and it had the body of a reddish-brown hairless dog. The upper back was hunched to a small degree. It's spine was quite visible beneath the crimson shade of its skin. The shoulders were wide like a weight lifter and equally muscular. The front legs withdrew from the shoulders and formed two thick poles to the ground. They were raised higher than the rear legs and had a thicker quality to them. This gave the appearance that the beast could raise itself to a standing position from its front haunches. The front paws of the animal had sharp talons stretching out from its stubby digits. The back paws were closer to feet of a human but much larger in size. The entire rear legs were humanesque as well. They were bent as if it was ready to launch itself at someone. They were very well defined as was the rest of the creature's body, but the girls' eyes were locked in on the head instead. It's snout was long like a dog, but the teeth were prehistoric in nature. Two yellowed teeth from the front top of its maw hung down a good foot and curved in the shape of a scimitar as they came to sharp points at the end. The rest of the teeth made a tight fence around the mouth as if it was trying to smile. They were too numerous to count. Out of the flared nostrils came small curved tusks, much like a wild boar might have. They mirrored the front teeth and were just as yellow. The eyes were large quarter-sized, pitch black pools of darkness. It's ears were triangular shaped and pointed straight up from the top of its black head. There were a few lines on its forehead and as its head turned towards the girls they wrinkled a bit as if in deep thought. Both of the girls were in immediate shock and froze in place. Traci started to whimper as tears flowed freely from her eyes. Harmony shrieked in terror as her fright overwhelmed her. After a few seconds Harmony grabbed a hold of Traci's wrist. With a slight tug, she stood straight up and pulled Traci with her. They made an attempt to run away through the curtain of black fog around the circle, but they were immediately met with resistance. The thing leaped across the circle and held the girls still by their ankles. The beast rose up on it's hind legs, a bit hunched over in a semi-erect position and dangled it's prey in the air upside down in front of it's snout. The girls were in total panick, crying and screaming in fear as the creature sniffed them as it twirled them in midair. "Let us go," Harmony screamed as her friend Traci swooned starting to lose consciousness. Harmony too felt woozy in her upside down perdicament and was afraid of passing out in this monster's grip. Their was also a smell about the creature that was both disgusting and pleasant. She breathed through her mouth trying not to be revolted by it. "Children!" the dogbeast bellowed. It looked around at the circle and to the ground at the makeshift pentagram twirling the girls as he did so. "Please let us go," Harmony begged again. "Silence little witch," the dogbeast responded. "Your sorcery is the only speaking you will do for the rest of this vile night. You answer my questions." "I, we only…" Harmony stammered. "Silence!" the dogbeast ordered. Traci lost consciousness and went limp in the grip of the creature. It sniffed her once more, then shook her a bit to awaken her, but she just hung their unaware of what was happening. It then turned back to Harmony and continued, "Have you not heard what Lloch-adax has said? Answer my questions and don't speak until Lloch-adax has asked one. You brought Lloch-adax here and now you must tell me why. Answer me little witch and tell me why you summoned Lloch-adax?" When Harmony hesitated trying to figure out what to say, Lloch-adax shook her roughly as he did Traci a moment before. She felt a bit dizzy and wasn't sure she was going to pass out too. Finally, she gathered her thoughts and spoke. "We didn't mean to summon you, we just…" "Didn't mean to summon me?" Lloch-adax repeated mockingly. "You can't summon Lloch-adax without purpose. The words you spoke pulled me here. Those words should not have been spoken. Yet, you two children witches did. So the question still remains, why did you summon Lloch-adax?" "We found this spell," Harmony answered nervously. "Found a spell?" "It was in a book in the library and we just figured we would see if it worked and…" "Stupid human child," Lloch-adax interrupted, "do you know what you have conjured? Lloch-adax is a demon, young one." Harmony gasped. She looked away wanting nothing more than to be rid of the foul creature. She was suddenly shaken once more. "Look at me foolish child," Lloch-adax demanded. "You must understand what you two have done tonight. You have brought Lloch-adax to this plane and have binded our paths together as one. You should never have summoned me." "I'm sorry, we're sor…" Harmony pleaded. "Silence! Lloch-adax will not tell you again. Lloch-adax can not harm you for we are now bound together, but I can show you things that will haunt your dreams forever." Traci awoke and Lloch-adax smiled menancingly at her. She looked over at Harmony and she saw a pale version of her friend. She can only guess she was as white as Harmony was. Her sobs continued once more and Lloch-adax shook her until she only sniffled. "Lloch-adax welcomes you back child. Be quiet immediately and listen. Now, Lloch-adax needs to explain to you the mistakes you have made. This circle was meant for me, not little witches. You are trapped here with me until the circle is broken, but in order for you to break the circle you need my help. We are bound together. We are one now. Bound as one. Inseparable. "Our paths will cross even when the circle is broken. Your blood flows through me now. Yet, you are children and you can not be corrupted unless you corrupt yourselves through your own doing. Mine actions are indeed corruptible. Lloch-adax can in years to come, when you reach your adulthood make your choices more difficult. Nevertheless, the choice is always yours. Once you lead yourselves into corruption, there is no turning back. Lloch-adax feels a good in the both of you, and it makes me shiver. Yet there is mischief in the both of you, especially you." His snout turned sharply at Harmony and grinned showing his yellowed teeth in all their glory. Lloch-adax continued, "This mischief will feed me until the time is right when your souls become corrupt. If that is not the case, then Lloch-adax will be your daemon and your guide and do as I am told. Lloch-adax is bound to do so. Lloch-adax only hopes you will free me of my torment and return me to my plane when you arise in power as a witch. On the otherhand, if your journey becomes corrupt Lloch-adax will be there to finish the spell you invoked. Lloch-adax is bound to do so. Your destiny is yours young witches. Lloch-adax feels your need to speak, so you may now talk." Harmony spoke softly, afraid of upsetting this demon and invoking it's wrath. She began with a gulp, "We aren't witches. We just kind of made a mistake and…" "You are witches," Lloch-adax interrupted. "You are on the path of the witch and your power is such that it can't be denied. Continue." "We aren't interested in being witches anymore, I promise." "You have no choice. Continue." Traci suddenly threw up, and Harmony was close to following when the demon put them down and laughed. Sitting back on all fours again, Lloch-adax withdrew from the girls and sat down on it's hindlegs in what would be best described as a dog sitting posture. Harmony crawled to her friend as soon as she got her bearings back. Never leaving Lloch-adax's sight. Pulling back Traci's hair she whispered she was sorry and hugged her close. The smell of the vomit making her want to move away, but she didn't. "Continue," Lloch-adax ordered once its laughing had ceased. "Can we leave now please," Harmony asked softly. "You can try, but the separation will make you ill like your friend. It would make me ill as well." "We want to go home," Harmony said weakly on the verge of tears again. She was beyond exhaustion and wanted to just be in bed safe and sound. "Then we have to agree on some things," Lloch-adax answered calmly. "What things?" Traci asked pulling away from Harmony's arms. "Well, well it finally speaks, how delicious," Lloch-adax amused. "Because you cast the spell while in the circle, you are effected by the spell like Lloch-adax, and bound by it as well. Lloch-adax explained that much all ready to you children. Understand?" The girls said nothing but they both shook their heads to agree with the demon. "Good," Lloch-adax continued. "Since we are bound, all parties of the spell have to agree to be free of the circle before they leave." "Then agree so we can be free," Harmony stated. Lloch-adax tilted his head and held a single taloned finger to its lips to suggest to Harmony that talking now is not welcome. She looked down in defeat afraid to lock eyes again with the monster. "It isn't that easy young one. Lloch-adax can't go home because of this spell, and can't leave the circle unless you let me leave." Sensing a question arising he held a paw up. "You want to know what happens to Lloch-adax if you let me go, isn't that right?" "Yes," the girls agreed in unison. "Of course," Lloch-adax continued, "and the answer is Lloch-adax can't walk in your plane without this circle and pentagram. Lloch-adax can only leave with you, but not as myself as you see me here. Lloch-adax has to leave as a symbol or mark that way I am with you both at all times. Ahh, Lloch-adax senses another question coming. Let's see…you wish to know what kind of symbol or mark, right?" "Yes," Harmony was the only one who answered this time. Traci had a troubled look on her face. "With your consent of course, Lloch-adax will leave a mark upon your skin and when the time is right Lloch-adax will materialize back into the state you see me now. Call it a tattoo if you wish. You may speak freely now." "I don't want a mark on me," Traci interjected. "I don't either," Harmony acknowledged. "No one will see it but you or those that have a right to see it," Lloch-adax replied. "Who has a right to see it?" Harmony asked. "Those with the same mark of course," Lloch-adax answered. "Can it be hidden so no one can notice it even those that have the mark?" Traci questioned. "Yes." "So the only way we can all leave is to have this mark?" Traci asked. "Like Lloch-adax said before you can walk out freely, but there are consequences in doing so," Lloch-adax returned. "How do we know you aren't lying to us?" Harmony inquired. "You don't know," Lloch-adax announced, "but Lloch-adax can't lie to you as long as I am bound to you." The girls said nothing they just exchanged glances. Harmony had an idea though. "Be right back," Harmony said while standing and walking towards the veil of dark smoke. She looked over at Lloch-adax, but he just waved his paw at the smoke as if to say, "be my guest." "Harmony, be careful," Traci warned. Harmony took a look back at her friend then walked through. She felt an uneasy feeling immediately as she looked over the moonlit area. Turning around she saw nothing but the circle on the ground that they had created. Even the pentagram was missing. She remembered that same thing at the ceremony last night. Feeling like she was missing some part of her, she became a little dizzy and naseous. She turned and walked back through the circle. It was as it was, except Traci was one step away from joining her. "Don't do it Trace," Harmony pleaded. "It's a feeling you wouldn't want to experience." "See," Lloch-adax postured. "What happened?" Traci asked ignoring the statement from the demon. "As soon as I went through I felt sick," Harmony replied. "The amazing thing though was there was nothing behind me. Nothing but the circle of rocks. You was invisible." "Not invisible little witch," Lloch-adax remarked. We are just in between planes of existence. Your spell has caused this until it is broken." "Are you evil?" Harmony suddenly said. "Yes," Lloch-adax responded matter-of-factly. "Are you planning to trick us by getting the mark so we can leave?" Harmony asked. "Lloch-adax sees you are trying to tell whether Lloch-adax is telling you the truth or not. Very clever little one. No, Lloch-adax will not tricking you." "Will the mark hurt us?" Traci added. "There will be a temporary burning that will disappear as soon as you step through the circle." "Where will you go after we leave the circle?" Harmony inquired. "Lloch-adax will be neither here nor there, but will be a part of you." "Will you possess us?" Traci said. "No," Lloch-adax offered. "Lloch-adax can not possess children, but I will be a part of you. A part of you that has no power over anything you do. We are bound by your spell until it is broken." "How can we break the spell?" Traci asked becoming more at ease with the demon as time went on. It was happening without either one of them realizing it. Harmony had even moved closer it. "That Lloch-adax can't help you with. You will have to find a way to reverse the spell or do not be corrupt in your ways." "Is there anything you have not told us?" Harmony inquired. "Yes, there is a lot you do not know and it is not Lloch-adax job to tell you. Lloch-adax will say this last thing, when we leave this circle your memories of what has happened will fade away. You are too young and you can not carry the ways of magic with you." "We won't remember anything?" Traci asked. "There might be glimpes here or there," Lloch-adax explained, his voice growing inpatient, "but you will not really remember enough to understand a thing. It is time make your decision." The girls looked at each other and in their eyes their was confusion and the loss of hope for what they had done. Harmony especially felt the weight for her friend because it was her pleading that brought them here. What choice did they have? "Where do we get the mark?" Harmony muttered. "Lloch-adax shall place it wherever you choose. If you do not care to choose, Lloch-adax will put it on the back of your necks." "Why there?" Traci asked. "Too many questions, silence!" Lloch-adax demanded. "It is a spot where you will not be reminded of and allow confusion enter your life. It is a good spot that Lloch-adax has choosen. It is time. Choose." "Ok, neck," Harmony relented. "Same," Traci said quietly. Lloch-adax leaped to it's feet and made up the distance in one stride. The girls were turned away and their long hair was pushed to the side. Without another word there was a searing pain at the back of their necks. The smoke around them disappeared and so did Lloch-adax. The demon was gone and the grassy area around them was back. The pain on the backs of their necks was awful as they both rubbed that area and felt the mark left by the demonbeast. Traci and Harmony began to cry the ordeal too much for them to take. "Lloch-adax said the pain would go away once we left the circle," Traci sobbed. "Yes," Harmony agreed and they both left the circle. Then the pain was gone and all was forgotten. Chapter 5 "Thank you for your present Harm," Dawn told Harmony through her cell phone. "My pleasure Sis," Harmony responded. "I am so happy for you. I wish I was there to see you and Scott's baby." "I'll come home during Christmas and then you can change Emily's diapers." "Is that what I am going to do?" Harmony laughed. "Hey you're Aunt Harmony, that is what Aunts do," Dawn joked. "Aunt Harmony, oh my God, I can't believe you threw the Aunt card at me." "You are so funny Harm, I really miss you. How is Traci doing? She still your best friend? You were always so close with her." "Traci is sharing a room with me in the dormitory." "No shit. You know I wish we were closer, but I guess our ages sometimes got in the way. I really regret that now." "Oh hush, your going to make me cry." "You are the tough one from what I remember. I don't remember seeing you cry since the time you skateboarded into that park car." "Oh yeah, I remember that. Mrs. Finnegan ran out to help me until she saw her car. Then she started to scream at me and my friends while I lay bleeding on the street." "That lady is a nutcase," Dawn remarked. "She passed away during the summer," Harmony stated. "Oh my, she was such a nice lady." "You just said she was a nutcase." "I meant that she…" "I am only joking," Harmony interrupted, "she isn't dead." "Oh damn, you are a little bitch. You tricked me." "No, seriously, she's dead." "Oh," Dawn gasped. "I am joking, she is a nutcase," Harmony laughed. "When I see you, you're dead!" "Then I guess I get out of diaper duty then." "Still the same goofball. You need to grow up, now that you are in college. How is it so far? You like it at Logan University?" "It's not bad, Mom keeps sending me gifts every week. Cookies and brownies, even got some scented candles." "I knew I should have went away to college. I got nothing going to a local school." "Did Mom have a talk with you before she left?" Dawn asked. "About the wiccan thing?" Harmony guessed. "Yes." "Yeah. Actually a long time ago during Halloween, we saw you guys have a ceremony. It was pretty boring." "If you were in it, you wouldn't think it was boring. Anyway Mom saw you too." "Really? I remember her looking at me. I wasn't sure. At one point I think we talked about doing some witch stuff ourselves. Not sure why we didn't." "Did Mom press upon you about your legacy?" "Yes," Harmony replied. She absentmindedly rubbed the back of her neck. Traci had walked in and sat down on the edge of her bed. Harmony mouthed that it was her Sister. Traci returned the okay sign, as she caressed the back of her neck with her other hand. Harmony continued, "She said it would be to my best interest to come to the Halloween ceremony." "It's called Samhain. You interested?" "No offense, but I have too much on my plate with school and all." "I understand, but you should learn a little bit about it before you just sweep it under the covers. It is a part of your life that you shouldn't deny." "I'm not denying anything. I am just business Dawn. It is a 2 ½ hour drive." "Okay, just promise me you will think it over. You could even invite Traci. Mom always liked her. If you came it would make her so happy." "I promise Dawn. You just go take care of the baby, I hear her crying."