Spell Catcher Chapter Six (working title)

Sienna wiggled the handle once again. “Locked. Guess your mom knows us better than you thought.”1

“No, she doesn’t.” Out of the pocket of my jeans I produced a skeleton key. “Mom keeps it in the kitchen with her other keys. I just snagged it when I handed her keys to her this morning.”2

“Brilliant, “breathed Sienna.3

“Now, last night they searched the bookcase and those trunks by the window.” I explained as we walked into the room. “They didn’t have time to search all of them thoroughly so made we should start there. I’ll take the bookcase over on the left wall and you two search the trunks.”4

“Remember we are looking for either the Cup of Life or the Amulet of Fertility.” Jenna reminded.5

I started pulling out two books at a time checking for hollow spines or hollow insides. Some of the names were familiar. Basic Herb and Their Properties, Controlling The Energy Within and Running a Coven: The in’s and out’s. That one was well used with pages fluttering to the floor.6

Time passed and I had gotten to the bottom shelf. “I’ve only got a couple more books to go through. Have you guys found anything?”7

“Lots of old robes, some yellowed bones, and wrinkled spell pages, but not the two things we were hoping for.” Sienna said holding up a piece of paper and a tattered purple robe.8

Jenna sat on the floor in front of one of the smaller trunks. She pulled out a piece of paper, read it and put it aside. She repeated the process several times. “Very interesting,” she mumbled after each one.9

“Jenna we’ll never get anywhere if you read every piece.” I whined.10

“Some of these are very old. This one has to do with sacrifice.”11

“Human or animal?” I asked.12

“It doesn’t say right off hand, but I’d say animal.”13

“Put it down. That’s forbidden,” Sienna jumped and grabbed the paper.14

“I’m only reading it,” she protested.15

“Stop it you two. We need to stay focused. I don’t know when mom is coming back, so lets get moving. I, at least, want to find out what ‘it’ is.”16

I finished off the last two books and stood up to stretch my back when I saw a twinkle from the corner of the room. I dusted off my hands and walked towards the windows. On the floor sat an ordinary beaten gold bowl the size of a basketball. The inside gleamed like a newly risen sun, but the outside look trodden and worn.17

“Hey guys, come look at this,” I said as I picked up the bowl. A jolt of energy shot up my arm, leaving a soft tingling sensation where it passed.18

“Why are the hairs on your arms sticking?” Asked Sienna as she neared.19

I shook my head but no sound could I make. It was like the words were being stolen from my brain before I could even wrap my lips around them.20

From inside the bowl a sound rose softly, growing with intensity with each new syllable it rang. We three Star Two apprentice witches stared into the shallow bowl and the depth grew deeper and darker until the bottom was no longer seen to us. Jenna was squatting down beside me with Sienna on the other side. She dipped her hand into the bowl and it slid slowly farther down. As it passed her elbow she looked up with an amazed look on her face.21

I sat it on the floor in front of us. Instantly the tingly feeling left my arms and shoulders. I hadn’t noticed but my throat had also started to feel clogged. “What does it feel like?”22

Jenna shook her head and pointed at her throat. “You can’t talk. Neither could I when I touched it.” Her shoulder was nearly under by this time.” Maybe you should pull your arm out.”23

She nodded and started the process of pulling out her arm.24

“My turn next,” piped in Sienna impulsively.25

“I really don’t think that’s a good idea.” But as soon as Jenna’s fingers broke the surface Sienna plunged her head in. 26

“What is she doing?” I cried and I jumped behind her, grabbed her around the hips and started to pull. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jenna shaking out her arm. “Help me,” Sienna’s shoulder had sunk below the boundary.27

Jenna shook her head sending her ponytail flying around her. “I can’t feel my arm>”28

“Then just help with one hand.” I yelled.29

Jenna come up behind me and wrapped her good arm around me. I could fell her sit down with her weight, pulling with all her one hundred pounds. The tension holding Sienna in the bowl held for a moment longer. Slowly the tension eased up a bit and we started pulling her up.30

Sienna emerged with a pale face that sparkled as though she was frozen and tiny icicles covered her face. She was no longer breathing and her eyes were closed.31

“Goddess she’s dead, “ I whispered.32

“No she’s not!” Jenna said harshly. “Start compressions.” 33

“W-what?” I had my hands on the top of my head and I was slowly inching away from them.34

Jenna was tipping Sienna’s head back and right before she clew in her mouth she said, “As soon as I say start pushing on her chest, five times, right above her heart.”35

I looked at as she bent over Sienna and I started to panic. My heart was racing, my palms were sweaty and I was having a hard time breathing. Thoughts of telling her parents and their reaction floated through my head. Trying to explain why we were here, what we were looking for stood out among the confusion but a s soon as Jenna said, “now,” I did what I was needed to.”36

Moments passed and then minutes as we worked on our friend. Sienna had always been there. I never knew a moment when she wasn’t beside Jenna and I. One time she threw me a surprise birthday party and forgot the cake. I couldn’t imagine life without her.37

“Breath, Sienna,” panted as I continued to beat on her chest.38

Sienna gasped and then coughed as I sat back with relief. I laughed and Jenna started in with me. Sienna sat up and looked at us bewildered, then laughed with us.39

“What in the Goddess name were you doing?” I suddenly yelled at her. I was so angry with her but I was also still scared.40

The laughing stopped as suddenly as it started and she’s just looked at me with big innocent blue eyes. “You will not believe what I saw in there! The colors were so vivid and bright like an artist palette. Splashes all over with streaks mixed in. I saw images of people I hadn’t seen in forever. They were sitting in groups and laughing. Everything was so peaceful and relaxing. I wanted to stay.” She had been talking so fast that when she stopped the silence was unbearable.41

I looked at Jenna, “what is this?”42

She just shook her head, but she looked scared.43

With hands resting on my thighs I looked over at the cabinet behind the chairs. “I’ve got an idea.” I stood up.44

“What are you?” Asked Jenna apprehensively.45

“To look something up.”46


* * *47

“The Bowl of Redemption is said to give the user the ability to recover what has been lost, rescue.” I closed the book gently.48

“But why couldn’t we talked?” Asked Jenna from across from me.49

We where seated in the brown leather chairs in front of the cabinet. Sienna had her legs drawn up and her arms wrapped around her knees. While Jenna sat with her legs crossed. My mom’s Book of Shadows lay on my thighs.50

“It didn’t say.” I shook my head. “Come on let’s get out of here before my mom comes home.”51

I turned to put the book away when a shadow moved at the window. “Hey what’s that?”52

Sienna and Jenna stood up to look and the shadow darted away. The three of us ran to the window.53

“Well will you look at that, its Tamora?” Sienna cried.54

“Do you think she saw the bowl or heard us?” Jenna asked.55

“Probably. If we could do the hearing spell then she could too.” I stated seriously.56

“We still need to get out of this room. Come on.”57

We walked towards the door. When we were out I locked it and said, “guess Elder Graves will know soon.”58

“So we agree and that was the ‘item’ they were talking about?” Jenna pushed up her glasses.59

“Yup. I need to put this key back. Meet me upstairs. We need to plan.”60

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