Spell Catcher Chapter 11(working title)

It was an ordinary school day. At least it looked ordinary to me. Students went to and from classes. Stood around in the halls talking, laughing and playing tricks. Teacher reprimanded and tried to teach boring lessons like usual.

But it wasn’t a usual day for us. We were jumpy. The shadows seem to watch us and every time someone looked at us I wondered what they knew. Were they working for her? Did she have eyes and ears here at the school? We didn’t talk much and didn’t participate in class. The three of us watched everyone and everything. We saw it all.

All except Tamora. We weren’t expecting her come and hang out with us. No that would totally be suspicious. But we did think we would see her.

We didn’t. I still have science lab with her. She wasn’t in class and when I asked one of her friends she said she hadn’t seen her all day.

After class I ran to find Jenna and Sienna. “Have you guys seen Tamora?” I asked when I found them at Sienna’s locker.

Sienna was brushing her short hair while Jenna was braiding hers. They had just gotten out of gym. “No. Didn’t you have her in science?” Asked Sienna.

“She wasn’t there. I think something’s wrong.”

“Why?” Asked Jenna tying purple band at the end of her hair. It went well with the lavender skirt she had on.

“Piper says she didn’t hear from her this morning.”

“So?” She asked again throwing the brush in Sienna locker.

“So, I guess Tamora always calls in the morning whether or not she’s going to school. It’s a system they have.”

“Ok, so something may or may not have happened. What do you want to do?” Jenna pushed up her glasses.

I thought about what my mother had said last night about doing what’s best for the people under me. What’s funny though is I never thought of myself as the leader of this merry little band. I always thought it was Jenna. She’s the smart one. I guess we all had our strengths.

What was best for the three of us was to stay here, finish our last class then talk to my mother.

Now if I started to consider Tamora as one of us then I’d have another option. I’d have to consider if she was in trouble and would I help. Well I didn’t know if she was in trouble and the only way to find out was to ditch last period and go to her house.

But that wouldn’t be the best for Jenna and Sienna. So I made my decision, but first I asked. “Do you guys think Tamora is one of us now?”

They looked at each other and decided something between each other, unseen to me. “Yes,” was their reply.

Sandy haired Austin and dark brooding Brody walked by and said hi as we stopped talking to stare.

I got distracted watching them. Sienna smacked me on the shoulder. Come on we don’t have much time left.”

“Sorry.” I cleared my throat. “I’m ditching school and heading over to Tamora’s. You guys stay…”

“No way!” They both said at once.

“This is best. I’ll be the only one getting into trouble. You guys will be out of it.”

“And what if you need us?” Asked Sienna.

"Then I’ll come back for you.”

“Absolutely not!” From both.

I looked at them frowning. I could see written on their face that they weren’t going to back down. Leadership wasn’t as easy as it looked.

“Alright, but I want it known that I don’t like this.”

“Noted…” Jenna flipped her braid over her shoulder.

“And ignored.” Sienna smiled sweetly.

“Fine, lets go.”

* * *

Leaving school was the easy part. Getting from school to Tamora’s house was another matter.

Tamora didn’t live far if you really thought about it. It was just a couple blocks away. The problem was we had to go past our houses. None of our mothers worked out of the home and it was such a nice crisp autumn afternoon that Sienna and Jenna’s mothers would be outside gathering the last of the summer herbs and vegetables.

“So when we go past one of your houses will just have to go through the Sacred Rowans.”

“Are you nuts!” Sienna practically jumped on me.” It’s forbidden.”

I looked at her. I mean seriously looked at her. From the way she walked I could tell she was scared. She walked stiffly and her head darted around as if she was trying to see everything at once. Worry lines had creased her forehead and her happy sparkly blue eyes were shaded and sunken.

“Have you been sleeping lately?” I asked concerned.

She hugged herself, but Jenna’s the one that answered, “I don’t think either of us have been getting much.”

“Then why are you here? If this is troubling you so much leave this to me.” I thrust my suddenly cold hands in my coat and hoisted the strap of my bag more comfortable on my shoulder. I increased my walking speed.

“This isn’t just about you.” Jenna zipped up her coat and swung her messenger bag around to her back. “If she succeeds she’ll throw our families out also.”

I slowed down. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I forget sometimes.”

“Forget it. Let’s get back to the Sacred Rowan. We can’t go through them.”

“There is nothing in the ‘Laws of the Coven’ that says we can’t. We are not going to harm them or hurt anyone else. We are just seeking passage through them.”

“So you remember the blessing?” Jenna asked.

“No, but you do.” I said smugly.

She just shook her head at me and continued walking beside me. Sienna trudged a couple of steps behind us.

Leaves crackled underneath our fee as we weaved our way through the wooded path. Overhead struggling leaves hung on with all their might. Deep reds and bright orange ones floated down like a crayon rain. With every step an earthy smell blew on the wind and small birds fluttered from one skeleton tree to the other. A small tawny colored a squirrel ran across our path and up a tree.

“My house is coming up,” whispered Sienna from behind. “If my mom’s outside we’ll be able to hear her. She sings while she works.”

We tried to tread lightly but the leaves continued to crunch under our fee. But above it all we could hear a soft melody.

“You guys hear that? She’s out.” Sienna whispered, scrunching up her shoulders against the cold.

We turned left instead of right and peered through a large evergreen bush. Kneeling in the garden was a small woman with shoulder length blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. I t sung freely as she dipped and stood up in a slowly rhythm. She had gloves on her hands and jeans on. Her sweatshirt was turned up at the bottom with green beans in the makeshift pocket. She was humming while she picked the beans.

“Ok so lets go further in.” I whispered as I let go of the branch I was holding.

Ten feet further in we came to a grove of trees. Even thought it was fall these trees had all of their leaves. Sender trunks shot up from stocky shrubs. Dark green leaves fluttered with the wind, perfectly shaped like feathers. It smelled like new spring and it was silent.

We stood at one of the many openings in the dense hedge that surrounded the grove.

“Say the blessing so we can get to Tamora’s house.” I nudged Jenna’s shoulders.

We clasp hands and stood with heads bowed.

In a subdued voice Jenna began, “Oh Blessed Mother Earth, Oh Fearsome Father Sun hear us now. Grant us safe passage through these majestic, slumbering trees. For the path we tread upon is righteous and pure. Keep us safe as we travel these lovingly worn trails and shelter us with the boughs of new leaves. Blessed be.”

We started through with heads bowed in silence still. Under foot the path was clear of leaves and sticks. The grove was kept neat once a week by Star Eight witches. I couldn’t wait for it to be y turn to help these wondrous trees.

The path meandered past a brook that merrily tripped over worn stones. The weak sun pushed its way past the thick leaves to play along the bank as we strode along. Here and there wood benches sat beside stone altars, laden with natural colored stones fresh and dried flowers and stone candleholders. On top of each altar embedded in the stone was the five-pointed star.

Tamora’s house was just on the other side of the grove and we were standing at another natural opening. The house seemed normal. Chimes hanging from porch jingled in the breeze sending a soft musical sound dancing around us.

Besides the chimes it seemed too quiet. All the curtains were drawn and the doors were sheet. Even Tamora’s dog Brandi was missing.

“Now what?” Sienna asked, standing beside me.

I didn’t respond, I just kept looking at the house. Everything looked normal but something felt wrong.

“You know when I’m sitting with my eyes closed and I know when one of you is walking towards me?’ I still didn’t look at them.

“Yes,” came their reply.

I turned to them. “It’s just a feeling I get. Sometimes its now your footsteps sound. And other times it’s a smell. Well there’s something wrong here, but it’s just a feeling.” I couldn’t explain it any better than that.

Jenna was the first to speak after a minute or two went by. “You’ve never been wrong before when guessing who it is, so I believe you.”

She turned to Sienna. “I’ve got no doubts. But what do we do now?”

“First thing we do is find out what’s going on in that house.” I tapped my finger on my front teeth while I thought. “I guess we go as quickly as possible to the side and see if we can see through the curtains.”

“And after that?” Jenna said reluctently.

“After that we’ll play it by ear.”

“That’s a wonderful plan O’ Great Leader.” Sienna was being sarcastic and it bugged me.

“I didn’t ask to be leader. If you’ve got a better idea please speak up.” I swept out my arm as an invitation.

The smirk on her face faded and she shook her head. “No, I don’t have a better idea. Sorry Baylee.”

I held my tongue as I started towards the house. I did just like they did it in the movies, half crouched and sideways. Not sure if it really helps but we made it through the yard and stood with our backs at the house. Slowly we inched up to the living room window. Here the curtains were white lace and we easily saw through them.

Besides the TV, a lazyboy and a couch it was empty. From this window I could see the entryway to the kitchen. There I saw movement.

I leaned closer to Jenna and Sienna and said in a low voice, “movement in the kitchen.”

At the kitchen window sat Tamora with her back to us. The curtains were also drawn but at the bottom it was open slightly. Pacing in front of her and the table was Leeanna Graves. Mrs. Day was across the room leaning with back to the sink.

Mrs. Day seemed upset. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she was chewing on a fingernail. Deep lines ran across her forehead and her shoulders were slumped. Her dark hair was disheveled as if she had been running her hands through it. Dark turtleneck and jeans looked slept in.

Leeanna paced from one side of the daisy yellow kitchen. Hair and eyes wild with anger. A black robe flowed behind her, wiping around her legs. It looked like it would trip her. Her hands were never still. Sometimes they were running through her hair. Other times they were gripping the sides of the cotton robe as though it were trying to get away.

She was ranting as I peered through the lacy curtains. I could see her hands flying and her pace quicken.

I motioned for the others to stay low, but to look in the window. First Jenna and then Sienna took their turns looking in.

I crouched close to the frost-incrusted grass, blowing in my hands trying to keep warm. The weak afternoon sun had not made its way to this side of the ranch style house.

The two of them finished peeking through the curtains and added themselves to my patch of grass. Our bags lay be our feet.

“Could you guys hear anything?” I asked between breaths in my hands. Sienna was the only one who had gloves.

Both shook their heads. “Only murmurs. I’ve never seen Elder Graves so animated.” Jenna said through her hands.

“Hey could we do that spell you two did at school the other day?” Asked Sienna.

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s a little vague. More details please.”

“Sorry mouth working faster than brain. The day I had swim team practice, you guys did a spell to hear from a distance. Do you think we could do it again?”

“Uh no. Mom has the book remember. And unless Jenna memorized the ingredients and the incantation,” she shook her head. I shrugged. “There you have it.”

“Ok, ok. So now what?” She asked huddling closer.

“Now we get into this house and hear what gong on.” I said as I slid along beneath the window.

They followed and we were soon beyond the kitchen and moving towards the other end of the house.

I had noticed the day we were in Tamora’s room that her windows slid to the side. Those were easy to shake loose. I just hoped these didn’t make too much noise.

We stopped outside of Tamora’s window. I grabbed the cold metal edge and wiggled it. It didn’t budge, but I was trying not to make any noise. So I wiggled harder. Back and forth I pushed it until it started to move. The progress was slow and I was feeling frustrated by how slowly it was moving.

Sienna pushed me aside and jerked it further open. Now the window was wide enough for us to wiggle through but Sienna had made enough noise to alert the neighbors not to mention the three in the kitchen.

I smacked her on the shoulder and gave her a ‘why’d you do that’ look. While she gave me a ‘what’ca you do that for’ look.

From inside the house came a voice “I’ll go see what that was.”

Tamora’s head peeked around the corner and spied us. Her mouth opened and she almost said something but I put my finger up to my lips to stop her. She stood there and waited as I climbed inside.