Any Witch Way (12 page)

“Hannah, you take Sadie, feed her, let her clean herself up, give her new clothes, and then show her around. Explain to her a little about her new life. After that little tirade, it’s obvious she’s in need of attention.” She turned to face Sadie. “I’m sorry not to have put your needs first. You’ve been through much. As you don’t really know us yet, you don’t even really know yourself, your new self, so why would you even want to help strangers?  

“I know you probably swore secrecy to your mother about the Heart’s whereabouts. I mean, really, why else would she take you to live solely in the human world. I’m sure you probably need some time to adjust. Unfortunately, time is not what we have, but we can spare a little to let you think things through. Though you’ve told us nothing, it’s obvious that the Syndicate hasn’t found the Heart yet either.  

“And witchling or not, I know when a child’s stomach growls like that, they need food or they can be as unruly as a teething dwarf child. Rest, regroup, and we’ll talk later. Right now, Miss Bruja and Mrs. Teak and I have much work to do.”

She dismissed Sadie and Hannah with a wave of her hand. Sadie almost ducked; you never know what’s going to happen when a witch waves her hands, especially when she’s aggravated.

*  *  *

Sadie woke from her nap with a slight smile on her face despite her current situation.

It’s amazing what a full belly and some sleep will do for a person.

She stretched and looked at her surroundings. Hannah had shown her the house, the offices. The glamour on the house hid well the intricate workings on the inside. From human eyes, it was a simple funeral parlor. In reality, it was chock full of magikal creatures and workings—unlimited rooms, hallways, and floors.  

Hannah explained to her that every town had magikal beings, had offices for the Guild, as well as elements of the Syndicate. Magikal beings of all kinds worked and lived right alongside humans since time immemorial. It had amazed her that all these things happened right under the noses of unsuspecting humans, every day, and all the time.

But she also knew humans wouldn’t be so accepting in this day and age. Hannah had told her that once, long ago, before the publishing of the Malleus Maleficarum, it had been so. Humans knew, accepted, and lived alongside the magikal beings. Many humans visited witches, or wise women as they were called back then, for healing and help in other matters. Kings had sought their advice, keeping them well cared for in courtly fashion, and let them counsel alongside the governing body.  

Hannah also explained that witches earned their power with age. The older you got, the more power you had. The wiser you were, the more magik you could do. Sort of like the practice makes perfect motto. But none of this would happen without your talisman. A talisman was the center of your power. After all, magik didn't just happen; it had to come from somewhere. The witch’s talisman was an enchanted object from within the magikal realm that held all the magikal energy one needed to enhance the natural powers. All witches had one; all witches needed one. Hannah also warned Sadie that if her talisman was destroyed, she would be destroyed. Sadie had felt relief at this fact; she still didn’t have a talisman.

Hannah told Sadie how once you turn you’re assigned an older witch, a guide if you will, to help your change progress smoothly. They also helped you learn to control your powers and taught you simple spells and magik. Sadie wasn’t sure how she was going to progress. Everyone kept trying to kill her and Tara, who she assumed to be her guide, was stuck in a bubble with a goblin and no one believed her—just like they didn’t believe her about her mother. Even though she had been given this new life, things were still the same. She was still the outcast, still not taken seriously by adults, and still not happy. Plus, now, she had to learn things all over again.

Hannah tried to explain how the magikal realm existed on another plane, like a parallel universe, but that was where Sadie started to become confused. Hannah said it was similar to layers of baklava—one on top of the other and there were many of them. Only beings from the magikal realm ever came to the human world because they used to live together so long ago. Some just couldn't let go while others love the technology.

No technology was allowed in the magikal realm. The other worlds all stayed to themselves. She also told Sadie that once you’re a full witch at sixteen, you can travel to these other dimensions, these other worlds. Sadie had begun to think of the endless possibilities for her to fit in; she was daydreaming of a happy life and didn’t catch the rest of what Hannah had told her.  

A clamor outside her door brought her back from her thoughts. A commotion was going on, and the last thing Sadie wanted was to end up in the middle of another mess. She sighed and thought of her mother. All the things she hadn’t told her about herself, about Sadie’s birthright, and about this ‘other world’ that had been here all along. If only she had known, maybe things could have been different. Maybe her mom would still be with her and she could have guided Sadie through her witchling years. Sadie laughed at the thought of her mother doing magik. It seemed so weird to her.

The door flew open, hitting the wall, and Hannah popped her head in from around the corner.

“Sadie, come quick. There’s something you must see,” she said.

Sadie got out of her bed, smoothed her hair, and went out into the hall. Elves, imps, and fairies were all moving towards the courtyard in back of the house. As Sadie walked the hallway with the other creatures, none seemed to pay her any attention. In fact, they all seemed to be ignoring her, keeping their distance. As she approached the French doors leading outside, she saw a huge crowd amassed in a circle with Ms. Cabot in front. They parted for her to join.

Sadie gasped. Lying on the cobblestones in a small sad little pile was Whistle, or what was left of him. His little body had been branded from head to toe with a strange S-shaped insignia. He was missing his right arm and his clothes looked like they had been run through a wood chipper. Nailed to his head, right in the middle of his forehead with a nail the size of a railroad spike, was a note. It was written in red, and Sadie assumed it to be the poor wee man’s blood. It read:

Let this stand as a warning. This shall be the fate of all abominations in the human world. Our supremacy is rising, our powers are rising, and soon, all shall be restored; and the Syndicate will save humanity from your atrocities. We will rule both here and beyond, protecting humankind from your wicked breed.

When Sadie finally looked up from the body of her dead friend, everyone was staring at her with malice. Dwarves were growling low, fairies were shaking their heads, and two water sprites spit at her before disappearing into the fish pond’s waters. Sadie could feel the animosity coming off of all of them in waves and hitting her person. Her stomach began to gurgle and not from hunger. She looked down at the ground, trying to hide her tears.

What now?

“It all be the fault of that girl, that witchling traitor,” said a dwarf pointing a knobby finger.

“She’s going to be our ruin. Give her to the Syndicate. Be rid of her,” shouted an undine from the fountain at the center of the courtyard.

“I say we kill her ourselves, behead her, and make an example out of her, throw her body at the Syndicate’s stronghold,” hissed a gnome closest to Whistle’s body.

Sadie went cold with anxiety and terror.

How could they blame me?  

“It’s not my fault. I don’t know what’s going on. I’m as angry as you and I….” But she was cut off by a loud rumble of the now angry mob.

“QUIET!” shouted Ms. Cabot. “We need to assess our situation. WE need to find out just how much power the Syndicate has gained. We also need to send spies to find out where all this new power is coming from, obviously they have more magikal objects.” She turned slowly, deliberately, to look at Sadie. “And take her and lock her up in the Quiet Chamber…and keep close watch on her. For all we know she IS working with them. Maybe after a few days in the Chamber she’ll remember where that heart is…or she’ll confess to her conspiratorial ways, whichever comes first. Now is not the time for blind trust.”

Before Sadie could defend herself, she was grabbed by two Minotaurs that were at least eight feet tall. The smell of animal hit Sadie’s nose as their hooves clacked on the cobblestones. They picked her up by the arms so her feet were dangling and spun around in militant fashion.

“Please, I didn’t do anything. I don’t even know what’s going on. Please, listen to me.”

Sadie tried to plead with anyone, but the looks of contempt from everyone around quickly quieted her. She wished she was invisible.

“Lock her up now before I do something drastic. Whistle was a good ally and supporter of the cause. To die this way is appalling and someone will pay,” Ms. Cabot said. There was wickedness in her voice and rage in her body language. “Send this body back to its family.”

Sadie gave up trying to fight. The Minotaurs took her back inside and down a different hallway. She felt sick with sadness at the loss of Whistle. Small bursts of crackling light popped above her head as the anger began to build.

Once again, everyone hates me and won’t believe me. Heck, they won’t even listen to me.

Realization caused her body to go limp in the Minotaurs’ grasp. 

They reached the end of the hallway; when it looked like they could go no more, one of the Minotaurs took his hoof and touched a panel on the wall. It began to ripple a little and folded back into itself to reveal a chair inside a chamber no larger than four feet by four feet.

They threw Sadie into the chair and she landed hard, hurting her knee in the process. They didn’t care about her well-being; no one did anymore. Not in the human world, and now, not in this magikal one either. Sadie wanted to curl up into herself as they shut the door, and she sat in total darkness.  

Everyone hates me—again.

The darkness inside the box was deeper than any in the human world she had ever seen.

I wish I weren’t a witch.

Sadie could hear her own heartbeat and feel the deep, empty blackness of her prison closing in on her.

All I ever wanted was friends and family.

She began to hear her heartbeat in her ears, and the silence seemed saturated with it.

Everyone I care about dies.

She pulled her knees up to her chest, but didn’t cry. There weren’t enough tears for all the sadness she felt at this moment.   

As she opened her eyes, Sadie tried remembering what day it was.

I feel like I’ve been here in the darkness for weeks. 

She felt around in the blackness to see if anything might have changed, but the four walls and the confining dark remained. The rough wooden chair she was sitting in held no comfort, nor did her thoughts.

Everyone in the world hates me—again, and I can’t do a thing about it.  The silence thumped in her ears to the rhythm of her heartbeat. It was only broken by a stifled sob. Sadie, once again, felt that empty hole inside of her beginning to envelop her. She wished for the sleeping potion she had been given so many times before so that this punishment would not seem so horrific. Images from her life began to torment her as she sat alone.

I’m only thirteen, and I’ve got not only one, but also two worlds that hate me now. I wonder if I’ll ever get a chance at happiness. If I get out of here, I’m going to find a way to get to those other worlds. I’ll stay there in one of the other worlds and leave all of this behind.

A small crackle of unrefined magik popped above her head.   

As Sadie sat alone in the tiny, depressing room with her tormented thoughts as company, she began to wonder how long it would take for her to go crazy.

At least I’ll have Crazy Mary to hang out with if that happens.  

A scraping sound came from the black hole in front of her. Then small trickles of light began to appear. Sadie blinked her eyes. The wall in front of her began to ripple like an ocean of black oil. The pin pricks of light became brighter, and Sadie’s eyes began to water. She rubbed them hard. Then, abruptly, it was as if the wall had never been there.

Standing in the bright white of the doorway was a figure.

I guess they’ve come to do to me what was done to Whistle.

As her eyes attuned, she recognized the figure as Hannah.

“Quick, Sadie, come with me,” said Hannah, grabbing Sadie’s hand.

The two girls ran down the hall away from the confining box of a room. Sadie’s legs felt wobbly, and she had a hard time keeping up. As they ran, she noticed the funeral home was disturbingly empty. There was not one person or magikal being around. Hannah led her to a room at the opposite end of the house. Shutting the door behind her, Hannah turned to face Sadie.

“The Syndicate has attacked again, one of our offices in the next town over. No one knows how they’re getting all their information about where we all are, not even Ms. Cabot. They want you, Sadie. The Society just might give you to them, I’m afraid. I let you out so you may have a fighting chance.

“They’ll probably hit here next, and everyone is in the great room planning strategy. Ms. Cabot thinks you may be working with them, and she’s telling the entire magikal world. She’s furious you won’t tell her where the Ataraxia Heart is; let me tell you, she’s a bad enemy to have, as bad as having the Syndicate after you,” said Hannah.

“But I don’t even know what the Ataraxia Heart is. I don’t have it and I’ve never seen it,” replied Sadie. “I don’t know anything about anything.” Sadie’s heart sunk as she felt the weight of the reality settling on her shoulders.

“C’mon, Sadie, I’m like you, not like them. You can talk to me, trust me. I’m on your side. I let you out, didn’t I? Tell me where the Heart is, and I’ll help straighten things out with Ms. Cabot. C’mon, we don’t have much time,” pleaded Hannah.

Sadie looked at the girl in front of her. She didn’t know what to say. She wished she did have the stupid Heart. Then she’d give it to Ms. Cabot and all of this mess would be over. They can go fight their battles with the Syndicate, and she could try to form some sort of a normal life. She closed her eyes. Her stomach had that queasy, something-bad-is-about-to-happen feeling.

Of course I feel like this; I’ve been in a box for I don’t know how long, and my whole world has fallen apart—again.

Hannah was staring at Sadie with an insistent look on her face.

“Hannah, I really don’t know anything about a Heart,” said Sadie.

Hannah let out a long, irritated sigh and looked at the floor. Looking up again at Sadie, she seemed as if she were choosing her words carefully.

“Okay, I understand. Look, everyone thinks Ms. Cabot is losing control. There’s talk that the Syndicate will soon take over, and all magikal beings will no longer be allowed to exist on the human plane. We want to live here, the magikal world is so…well, it doesn’t matter. I’ve got your backpack; you’ll need it, and…are your ears pierced?”

Sadie just looked at the girl.

What a strange question to ask at a time like this.

“Yes,” she replied. There was a noise somewhere in the house.

“Quick, put these on,” said Hannah as she handed her a pair of small ruby stud earrings encircled with glittering diamonds. “They’ll render you invisible, and you’ll need that to get past Gur at the gates.”

“Where am I to go?” asked Sadie. She was beginning to feel the tightness in her chest and her stomach was roiling at this point.

“There’s a guide waiting to take you to a safe house. You can meet him at the diner on Main Street. You’ll know him when you see him. Just stay at the safe house ‘til all this is over. Oh, and Tara’s there as well. I’ve told her all about Ms. Cabot locking you up, and she’s madder than a wet cat. She’ll fill you in on what’s been happening. Now hurry, put on the earrings and go,” said Hannah desperately.

Sadie quickly put the studs into her ears. She was immediately startled when she reached for her backpack and couldn’t see her hand. It was strange and a bit disturbing to be invisible for real. She smirked at the irony of finally getting her wish to be invisible. Sliding her arms into her bags straps, she almost doubled over from the wave of nausea that hit her.

Something dreadful is going on.  

“I’m ready,” Sadie said. She said the words, but didn’t really believe them.

Hannah giggled a little. “Sorry, Sadie, I’m not laughing, really, it’s just…weird to hear you, but not see you. Our plan should work; now let’s go.”

Hannah led Sadie back down the hall, and they turned up another that ended in the front parlor doors. Hannah quickly opened the door and acted as though she was just stepping outside for a breath of fresh air. Sadie whispered a thank you and walked down the front steps to the cobblestone walkway leading to the front gates. She could see Gur sitting at his post and really hoped her new earrings worked. She had seen firsthand what trolls could do when they were mad.

I wonder what Mom would do?  

Though it was not as much comfort as the real thing, not hearing her mother’s voice for the last few days was weighing heavily on her. It had been both calming and helpful in times of stress.   

She slowed her pace as she drew closer to the troll. He began to sniff the air, and she froze.

Oh, no, he knows I’m here.  

She walked carefully forward, choosing her steps warily. Gur looked around. Sadie stepped lightly towards the gates. Gur sniffed the air frantically. Sadie touched her ears making sure the earrings were still in place, just in case, not that she was really worried. She wasn’t quite sure what would happen to her if they found out she was not only out of the box, but trying to escape. And Hannah, what would happen to her if they knew she had helped Sadie.

Holding her breath, she stepped through the wrought iron gates and warily moved forward. Gur began to turn in circles, as if searching frantically for something lost. He grunted while he scratched his head and sniffed the air around him. Sadie took a step off the path and the frost covered ground crunched underfoot. Gur turned and looked directly at her. Cold fear swept through her stationary body.  

After a few minutes the troll looked away and started sniffing the air once again. She stepped back onto the cobblestone drive and began walking quickly while constantly looking back over her shoulder at the giant beast. When she reached the road leading to town, Sadie realized she had been holding her breath. 

Shew, I made it, she thought, as she let out a long, measured lungful of air.

Sadie pulled on her backpack straps like a hiker and continued down the road a little easier.

I wonder what is really going on.  

She thought about what Hannah had told her, that Ms. Cabot didn’t trust her and wondered what to do. Weighing her options, she knew she had to listen to Hannah. At least Tara wasn’t mad at her; maybe she could straighten all this out.

As she approached Main Street, lost in thought, once again the sound of her stomach growling brought her back to reality. The town clock struck three and caused her to look up. The parking meters appeared to be parking meters.

What is going on?

They in no way resembled the eloquently dressed sentries she had seen when being taken to the warehouse.  

This is so…confusing.  

Her stomach growled again, louder. Sadie saw Fulton’s Main Street Grocery just up ahead, not twenty yards in front of her. The bins of apples, oranges, and bananas in the front window made her mouth water. She knew she didn’t have any money and hatched a plan in her head.

I’ll just borrow something to eat ‘til I can pay them back.

Waiting for someone to open the door only took a matter of minutes. Mrs. Gallagher, her former Biology teacher, was heading right for the store.

It must be a weekend, otherwise she’d be in school making us cut up frogs or something.   

The woman approached and opened the door wide, but when Sadie tried to enter behind her, the cold November wind whipped the door closed, almost hitting her in the process.  

Sadie shivered and sneezed. A woman passing by said, “Bless you,” to her companion who looked truly befuddled. Sadie muffled a chuckle.  

With all the commotion, she hadn’t realized just how cold it was outside. She knelt down in the alleyway next to the store. She wanted to check her backpack for that sweater Mrs. Teak had given her. Hopefully, it was inside. When she untied the drawstrings and started to look, what she found surprised her. All her magikal gifts were gone, there were two books, both titled something about human behavior, and the only other thing in her backpack was a bleached white bird skull, a little smaller than her fist. It had perfect emeralds for eyes and a sharp beak the color of faded buttercups.

She was drawn to those eyes the way a salmon is drawn upstream during spawning season. She ran her hand across the beak and felt tingles run down her spine. She petted the thing, lovingly, and smiled down at it. A warm, cozy feeling rushed through her body like it was summer and not fall. She felt safe in its presence, like everything was going to be okay. She fell further into its eyes and let the world go away.

She heard the clock in the center of town chime four times and shook her head.

I’ve been staring at this thing for an hour?

She shivered and stood up on legs that were full of pins and needles. She drew the drawstrings of her bag tightly again and put it on.

Why do I feel like this thing is trying to tell me something?

Ignoring the cold and her hunger, she walked down Main Street towards Mable’s diner.

I’ll save the questions for Tara.

Crossing the street, Sadie caught sight of The Book Nook where she used to meet with her only friend, Mrs. Felis, for tea and company. It seemed so long ago to her.  

Boy, things have changed.  

The shop was still open; as she approached, she noticed the window she and Zeno had jumped through to escape looked as though nothing had ever happened. She peered inside as she passed. Behind the counter, sitting on a stool, was the old gray cat wearing glasses, which the humans saw as elderly Mrs. Felis.

How come I can see her, but not the parking meter sentries?

She wanted to go inside, to have a cup of tea, and sit with the old woman, but she thought better of it when Ms. Cabot’s angry face flashed through her mind. Who knew if Mrs. Felis was against her now as well? Bitter nostalgia was soon replaced by fear as she saw a man-vulture fly overhead.

And I can see them?

It was headed to that same warehouse on the outskirts of town she had been taken to not so long ago.

Moments later she stood in front of the glass door to the diner, examining its occupants for magikal qualities. It only took a second to spot the gnome wearing an I LOVE THE GUILD tee shirt tucked neatly into his little trousers. He was sitting at the counter; as if he knew she were there, he turned and looked directly at her and smiled. The gnome threw some money on the counter, hopped off the stool, and made his way out the door. Once outside he motioned for Sadie to follow him.

They walked down Main Street and turned off onto the block where she used to live with the Argyle family. As they turned, Sadie caught sight of David’s father sweeping his front walk and shuddered. He looked up and caught her eyes, his own seemed surprised. Sadie’s stomach lurched a little, but then she remembered and felt safe in the knowledge that he couldn’t see her because she was still wearing the invisibility earrings. She shivered again; she didn’t like that man.

Though she wasn’t that attached to the Argyle family, she still didn’t like the idea of evil being so close to them. They were good people and had always been nice to her. Sadie looked again. David’s father still stood there not sweeping, but staring at Sadie as she turned the corner away from him.

Why does it seem like he can see me?  

She looked one last time, still a little unsure, to be positive he really didn’t see her. David’s father had returned to his sweeping. What she didn’t see was his reaching into his pocket and retrieving his cell phone the moment she disappeared around the corner. She also didn’t see how he very quickly began dialing a number while running to the same corner she just turned down.

Passing her former foster home, she saw into the big bay window of the kitchen where Mrs. Argyle was moving about, most likely preparing dinner for Mr. Argyle.

What I wouldn’t give for a nice, calm, normal sit-down dinner with them right now.