Spell Catcher Chapter Eight (working title)

Sienna, Jenna and I sat in the chairs waiting for my mother. As we sat there I told them what had happened early this morning and when my mom had woken me up.1

Understandably they were angry with me for letting it slip but they were also worried. The room grew hot as we fidgeted, waiting. I think we all regretted wearing turtle-necked sweaters. 2

Mom finally came in dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. Her barefeet made no sound on the wood floor.3

“No girls, I’m very disappointed in you all,” she said quietly. We knew we were in trouble. I’d rather have mom yelling then speaking softly. “But I have to admit I’m impressed with everything you’ve found out.” She paused. “Now what I need from you is to tell me what happened with the bowl.”4

So we related everything that had happened. From my voice not working, Jenna’s arm going numb and Sienna’s stupid attempt of going in head first and coming out not breathing.
“Hmmm… I’m glad you’re ok, Sienna. And what did see in the bowl?”5

Sienna told her about the colors and the people. And about one man in particular.6

“Can you describe him?” It seemed her attention had picked up. At first she was only half listening but at the mention of this man she focused on us felly.7

“He was tall. Very tall actually, taller then you Elder Younge.” This time mom didn’t tell her to only call her River. This was serious coven business.8

“So on.” She urged gently.9

“Umm…dark hair and I remember a mustache, neatly trimmed and there was a scar running from his cheek to his chin. “10

“What about his eyes?” She asked, leaning forward.11

Puzzled Sienna asked, “his eyes? Well he didn’t have any eyes, now that I think about it. How odd.”12

“Anything else, Sienna?”13

Silence and then, “Oh, oh yes his arm was in a sling.”14

Mom crossed her arms and leaned back, thinking. The three of us squirmed in our seats and looked at each other. We were dying to speak but held our tongues and waited.15

I couldn’t take it anymore. “Mom,” I said quietly. No response. “Mom,” a little louder. Still no response “Mother!” Louder still.16

“Sorry dear. What did you need?”17

I was frustrated and I let it show. I had been waiting patiently for her to tell me what was going on and here she was asking me what I needed. I stood up and leaned toward her, fist clenched, “What I need? What I need is for you to tell me what is going on?” I hadn’t realized I was yelling. “Sorry.”18

“What exactly do you want to know?”19

I looked at Sienna and Jenna. They nodded. “Why does Elder Graves want the bowl?” 20

She studied us for a moment before answering. “I suppose you’re old enough to know now.” She sighed; a weary and sad look crossed her face. “When you three were young I was not High Elder. I wasn’t even an Elder at that time. Leeanna Graves was a newly appointed Elder.” She paused and ran her hands over her thighs nervously. Her eyes watched her hands as she continued. “There was a witch, a man, who wanted power and he convinced a young and relatively naïve Elder Graves that she should be High Elder. And who knows in time she may have been. But she was in love with this man and would do what he wanted.”21

“The man I saw in the bowl?” Asked Sienna impulsively.22

Mom looked up at her, “yes. Calvin was his name. He was powerful in his own right and would make Elder the next year. They schemed behind the other Elders back and soon a couple disappeared or retired. Nothing was said but everyone looked at Leeanna differently. But all along it was Calvin driving her.” Mom got up and walked to the big windows. She stood with her back to us. The day was overcast and we could see her reflection. Her arms were crossed as if she were closed up. “They caught her adding a few drips of Belladonna in the High Elders wine. She confessed that she had been doing it for a while now but she accessed Calvin of forcing her. When she confessed they came charging over here to find him.”23

“Why here, mom?’ I asked stunned.24

I didn’t think she was going to answer me. She took her time and then “because…because he was my husband and your father, Calvin Theodore Younge.”25

I sat in shock with my hands clenched in fists again. Sienna and Jenna reached out and squeezed my arms. They knew what this meant to me.26

“I’m sorry darling,” Mom hand crossed from the window and was kneeling in front of me holding my fists. The pleading look in her eyes made me relax and I opened my fist to take her hands.27

“But when they got here he was already gone. He had told me he was going out for a while. He never came back.”28

“So we don’t know if he is dead or alive?” I asked.29

Shaking her head she stood up and sat down in the chair a crossed from me.30

“Why is Leeanna Graves still an Elder?” Jenna pushed up her glasses that had slipped down on her nose.31

“There was a trial and she was found coerced. She was stripped of the stars and had to start over. It didn’t take her long to earn back her stars. What did take awhile was her respect and trust. So we are back to where we started. She is again manipulating people to fulfill her desires.”32

“But why the Bowl of Redemption?” Asked Sienna.33

“What do you three know of the bowl?” Mom had leaned forward to rest her elbow on her knees and clasped her hands in front.34

Jenna answered for all of us. “Only what was in one of your books.”35

“I’ve got to find a better way of keeping you girls out. I should be angry with you three. And when this is all done we are going to have a very long decision. Now what did the book say?”36

“It said, and I quote, ‘The Bowl of Redemption is said to give the user the ability to recover what has a been lost; rescue’.” Jenna recited carefully.37

I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Mother how can you be so clam about this? The bowl has been stolen and you just sit here.” I yelled.38

“Baylee, please calm yourself. Now, I may seem clam, but inside I’m fuming. The energy levels in this room are scrambled so I don’t know who was in here. And I don’t know how they did it. But it won’t do the bowl or me any good to get upset. What I need to do right now is gather more information and then plan.”39

“Well we’ve told you all we know.” Jenna said seriously, bringing us back to the topic.40

“No not everything,” Sienna interrupted. “You asked how Elder Graves found out. Well yesterday we saw Tamora at the window, you guys remember?”41

“Yeah she was running down the yard to the road.” I replied looking at the window.42

“Was this before or after you found the bowl?” My mother asked eagerly.43

“After.” We all answered at once.44

“I see,” and again she become silent.45

As we sat patiently waiting I started to absorb all I had been told. It really explained a lot. Why mom had never really talked about my father. Why she looked sad when I asked about him. I had questions but I didn’t want to hurt mother anymore and asking these questions would hurt her more. So I filed them away for another day. But I had one question that couldn’t wait.46

“Mom, Sienna saw a man without eyes. I’m guessing the man was Calvin,” I just couldn’t call him father. “Why were his eyes gone?”47

“Mom...well when the council could not find him they decided to bind his eyes against seeing anything involving this coven.” She answered.48

“The council can do that?” Jenna asked tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.49

“Yes, it takes the whole coven to do it. Leeanna was the only one who objected at the end.”50

I asked puzzled, “at the end?”51

Mom nodded, “when it was first announced to the coven a few people objected. These were followers and friends of Calvin’s. Clearly they were torn between their loyalties. I was so angry at the time and I used that energy to convince them it was the right thing to do for the coven. They finally agreed and the binding was one during the next waxing moon.”52

“Now what?” I asked, my head thumping.53

“Well now I call the council together and see what can be done.”54

She looked at us suspiciously, one eyebrow raised. “And girls I want you to stay out of this. Go and do what girls your age do. I don’t want you getting anymore involved.”55

We looked at each other and then nodded to my mother. We were being dismissed so we stood up and started for the door.56

“Mom,” I was leaning against the doorjamb. “Mom sorry about the bowl and about Calvin.”57

She just nodded and I left.58

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