The Calling

Ella had strange dreams in the nights after they went into the Darkness, and came out, again. These weren't Katrina's kind. Theses were normal scares passing through her mind. She shuddered in her sleep. The Shadow was laughing at her, saying she had more to be afraid of. She couldn't take it anymore, and woke up with with a cold sweat. She felt awful. Katrina was there beside her bed. This often happened. Katrina looked worried, "He's coming into the dream state, now." Ella looked shocked, " Was that real?" Katrina, replied, " He wants to scare us, but he can't physically harm you." Ella didn't think he's find a way to her this soon! She knew it wasn't over, but invading minds?! She got up and walked to the attic where their mother's book lay. The pages were turning and stopped dead in their tracks. She went up to where they stopped. It read: TO PREVENT EVIL FROM LEAKING INTO SLEEP. She chanting the spell three times, and turned clockwise. She felt immediately better! Ella went back to bed, and slept well.

When morning came so did training. Miles suggested they be prepared. She went downstairs and ate breakfast first. Then she went in search of Miles. He was in the garden with Katrina. They turned heads to look at her. Training was strenuous! They worked on physical training first, like punches and kicks, then came the magic exercises; her favorite! She passed the second part of their training. She literally froze Miles in place. Reversing was hardest! After training her muscles were aching with exerting her powers. She learned you could only used but so much til your were drained. Later she went back to look in the book, again. The book always knew what to look for. Miles came in, and said, "I think the book has a mind of it's own!" Ella agreed. She didn't see much, so she adding the protection shields again so it was safe from intruders.

Once the book was safe, Ella asked Miles if he wanted to go to the market and buy charms, and other oddities. He declined saying, he had promised Charlie to teach her how to use a bow and arrow. Ella was disheartened, but nodded politely. She was always being turned down and spent much time as a child focusing on her charms, expect when Mama and Daddy would take them to the theater to watch plays of all kinds. She memorized the lyrics and music tones. Her favorite was a play about a young woman who was haunted  by a  phantom who'd come and sing to her in her sleep. The phantom was in love with her beauty but obsessed when she met up with a long-ago fling. She imagined that the phantom was good deep down, and his intentions were based on his past of rejection by his face which was masked.

At the market, Ella past a old man selling love potions. She didn't believe in trickery being used to find true love. The man was creepy too. He had one eye missing, and crooked teeth; very long black nails too. He asked, "Do you want help in your beloved? These potions are buy on, get one free. Come on, and buy them, girl." She said "No thanks!" The next booth was set up neatly by an old women in a red hood. She was pouring  her attention on a crystal ball and writing down things on parchment. Ella went up to check on her, "What are you selling?" She didn't hear at first,but looked up, "Eh?" Ella repeated herself three times before she caught the woman's attention. She looked at Ella strangely. " You carry a bright purple aura. Your future is an important one, and you have powers growing day by day." Ella was taken aback at this. "I knew your mother, we went way back. She was a friend of mine. I see her in your eyes." Stammering, Ella asked, "Who are you?" The seer replied, " My name is Melinda, deary." Ella was surprised, but unsure of this women. "I won't bite, you'll learn that I can aid you on your travels." Ella walked to the next booth and but turned back to Melinda, although she was gone. No trace of her remained. She looked for hours but knew it was getting late. She arrived home before dark, and ran into Katrina. She wasn't surprised to see her sister. "You met someone?" Ella nodded. Katrina asked, " I had a vision earlier, a woman in a red hood was talking to you. You turned your back, and she just vanished." Ella thought, " Maybe she has powers like Mama; She said she was a seer. Do you see anything about her?" Katrina dragged her sister to the attic and they leafed through the book. They pages went wild, and stopped on a portrait of the women whom Ella met. Her likeness was very well displayed. In big bold letters, it read: MELINDA SAGE. Ella read aloud from the passage. " She's famous for the ability to see auras, and also gave aid to those who were poisoned by the Darkness. She's a friend of the Good Witch, and her husband. On their death she vowed to help look after their children, and was named "Godmother" in the will. She can be called by the spell below. Read carefully."   Katrina gasped, " We should call her. I feel it's important. We need every one for this spell."

Later on, Everyone gathered in the attic. Anxiety was on their faces from what they heard. Miles fidgeted, but remained calm. Ella and Katrina lit the incense to drive away evil spirits that the book called for. Charlie lit four candles and placed them around the circle they drew on the floor. Fire burned from the candles, as Ella told them to hold hands. The blessed each element of magic, then the chanting started. As soon as they finished, Ella proclaimed in a voice loud enough to echo around them, " We call Melinda Sage to the Circle." Soon the candles wavered, and smoke filled  the center. Everyone watched as the smoke cleared. Melinda was standing inside the circle. " Hello, darlings, I missed seeing you. Your parents raised you well. What is your concern, dearies?" Melinda looked to Ella, and she spoke for her brothers and sisters. "We want to know why you showed yourself to me." Melinda spoke, "Your parents wrote in their will that you'd need guidance and for that, I am here." Miles squirmed, and Melinda gazed at the boy. "You have Darkness in you, I'm afraid." Everyone looked at their brother in the corner. Miles showed fear. He couldn't speak.