Schoolgirl Error

‘You’ve got to be kidding?’

‘Oh come on Gwen, you said you did this sort of thing all the time back home.’

The accent and irritable tone were not a good mix. It got on her nerves. Gwen sighed, one more thing for the list. As if tanned beautiful bodies, stifling Queensland heat and mosquitoes weren’t enough. She wondered for the umpteenth time why her father had thought emigrating was a good idea.

‘Gwen…..’ Cajoling. Warning.

‘I just don’t see how you celebrate Halloween here. It’s not very…...Halloweeny,’ Gwen finished lamely.

‘Look you said you were a witch, that you’d contacted spirits, that you could do spells and stuff.’ Debbie’s eyes narrowed, daring her to contradict.

Gwen winced. She had implied that with her stories of moon dancing, standing stones and love potions. But she’d needed something interesting to say to these bright confident girls. She wasn’t like them with her midnight hair and white skin. And her Welsh accent completely confused them.

But she had intrigued Debbie. Debbie: the most popular girl at school. Debbie: surfer queen, beach goddess, jeep chick. Debbie wanted a Halloween so she would have a Halloween…..in April….in Australia.

‘Well I was more of a novice, you know, just learning everything…..’ She tailed off as a frown gathered across Debbie’s face.

Gwen swallowed, ‘I suppose we could try something but it might not work because there’s only me. I…..er…I…won’t have the power of my coven.’

Yes that was a great excuse! Gwen silently congratulated herself. She’d do the spells and when they didn’t work, well, not enough witches!

Debbie stared at her for a long moment, and slowly smiled.

‘Ok….Ok….Meet me on the beach at midnight, usual spot’

- – x – -

Gwen could see flickering lights in front of the dunes and a smile tugged at her cheeks. Pumpkins on the beach! Each grinning evilly as waves caressed the surrounding sand!

Then she saw the bats. Lines of them swinging in the breeze, attached to a couple of parasol poles, occasionally broken up with a ghoul or a witch.

She suppressed a bubble of laughter. Even if she could do any conjuring tonight, no self respecting spirit would be seen dead, or indeed undead, around this! She walked over as Debbie sketched a pentagram in the sand.

‘Isn’t this great, Gwen? I can feel the power! It’s so awesome!’

Gwen could only nod.

‘So what’s next? Do we do a spell? Or a séance? What?’

Gwen took a deep breath, ‘Well I’ve brought my….um….my sacred vessels. They belonged to my mother, and her mother, and her mother.’

That was at least true. She pulled out four earthenware eggcups from her pack and continued,

‘We….um…...fill these with the elements. Yes….that’s right…..you know…...earth, air, fire and water. And…..er….and place in the points of the pentagram.’

Debbie nodded eagerly, eyes bright with anticipation.

Gwen shoved two of the eggcups at her, ‘You get fire and water.’

Debbie dashed off to the sea, liberating a pumpkin tealight on the way.

Gwen allowed her grin a brief airing. This was so silly. She scooped up some sand. That would do for earth. An empty eggcup would suffice for air.

She placed them in two of the points as Debbie returned and did the same.

‘What do we put in the fifth point?’ Debbie asked.

Gwen had no idea. ‘Maybe…...Maybe something that would connect us with the spirits?’

‘Yes!’ Debbie breathed. ‘Yes…..what about blood?’

Gwen’s eyes widened a fraction.

‘Blood?’

‘Yes! Blood…...Your blood. Witch’s blood!’

Debbie grabbed a shell fragment and dragged Gwen to the fifth point.

‘It’ll only hurt for a minute!’ Debbie leered. She sliced Gwen’s forefinger and squeezed. Blood pooled and dropped, staining the sand black.

Gwen wrestled back her hand, sucked furiously at the cut and glared at Debbie.

Debbie ignored her, ‘Now what?’

Not caring anymore, Gwen turned away and plonked herself down on the sand.

‘We wait.’

- – x – -

Gwen’s chin had drifted onto her chest when she heard something. Glancing over her shoulder she saw Debbie on her knees, rocking and moaning with her eyes squeezed shut. Alarmed, Gwen leapt up and rushed over.

‘Gwen…..Gwen…....’ she murmured.

‘Gwen…..Gwen….’ Louder now. Debbie’s eyes snapped open.

Gwen gasped and stepped back. Black blood eyes met hers, accusing.

‘Debbie?’

‘Gwen, you left me….’

‘Debbie, are you ok?’

Horrified, she watched a trickle of blood gather at the corner of Debbie’s mouth and drip down her jaw.

‘…..you left me in that car….’

Gwen shook her head frantically, fear stealing her voice. It wasn’t possible.

‘You left me to die Gwen…...’

There was no way their ‘spell’ could work. Could it?

‘…..in that car….all alone…..to die…....’

‘No….!’ Gwen cried, ‘No…I….!’ Her voice strangled on a sob, ‘Mum I didn’t, I swear I didn’t.’

‘…..all alone….to die…..’

Gwen reached out and gripped Debbie’s shoulders looking straight into those terrifying eyes.

‘Mum, they held me back, I couldn’t get to you…..I tried…..’

A sob burst through and Gwen crumpled onto the sand.

A snicker of laughter became a full blown roar and Debbie collapsed beside her.

‘You should have seen your face!’ Debbie guffawed. ‘I never thought you’d fall for that. Look, contacts and fake blood! That was so funny!’

Gwen blinked. Contacts? Fake blood? What?

‘It was a classic….just wait till I tell everyone at school!’ Debbie clutched at her stomach as laughter erupted once more.

Slowly Gwen realised it had all been a setup. Something to show up the Welsh witch. Something else to make fun of.

She stood up, a little unsteady.

Immense rage filled her. Dark and bitter it broiled through her, singeing her lungs and scorching her heart. She felt power thicken within her, branding her soul. Shutting her eyes, she whispered a short chant. Black flames danced along her arms and she flung her hands to the sky in release.

‘Mum,’ she cried, ‘Are you really there?’

‘Of course darling, I’m never far away.’

‘Let’s get rid of this bitch!’

© 2008 R.Livesey

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Tags:

spirit, witch, halloween, samhain, ttbex and ssbex