Nature of the Witch Page 8

  Kiera listened in fascination but once Mags had finished, the meaning of her story slowly dawned on her, “You think I'm a witch?”

  “I know you're a witch,” Mags smiled confidently, “all the chosen ones were branded. When witches began creating their own covens the markings changed. Each coven could be identified by their particular mark. I'm pleased to say that you are a Daughter of the Earth, just as we knew you would be. It's a little odd to speak of you being a member of a coven since technically you are the only member, well the only living member anyway. But now that there is one witch there is the possibility of others.”

  Kiera stared at the old woman in front of her. Surely this was all madness, but then she couldn't deny the weird symbol on her wrist. There seemed to be no logical explanation for it.

  “How do you know all this?” Kiera asked.

  “When the fighting was at its worst between the witches and the Creatures a council was set up. Its purpose was to protect the innocent people who were being caught up and killed in the cross fire. Even when the witches started to become extinct and the fighting less frequent the council continued. Then their job became to try and keep track of the witches and to help with their protection where possible. After the last member of the Gwithiaz passed away the purpose of the council changed again. It became about preserving the stories and the artefacts of the time, and keeping watch for any sign of the return of witchcraft. I was handed the task by my parents before me. It used to be that the council met only once a year but recently we've had more to discuss,”she winked at Kiera. After a pause she said, “I can help to teach you.”

  “Teach me?”

  “I can teach you in the old ways, show you how you can use your powers for good.”

  Kiera shook her head, “I'm sorry but this is nuts. I don't have any powers.”

  “Of course you do,” Mags corrected her gently, “you just don't know how to use them. Everything I know I've learnt from books and stories from the time. I've spent a lifetime studying the old ways and I can pass it all on to you. Witches in the past used their powers for healing, or for helping with the harvests, and even to peek into the future or speak to the dead. The possibilities are endless once you know what you're doing.”

  Now she had Kiera's attention.

  “Speaking to the dead?” Kiera repeated. “How could they do that?”

  Mags reached out and patted Kiera's hand. She knew what Kiera was thinking, “All in good time. First I need to know that you're willing to enter into this. For whatever reason you have been chosen and there's no getting away from that. You're a witch and that can't be changed. However, now it's down to you to embrace the life and all that comes with it. You must want to use your powers for the service of good. If there's one thing we can learn from the past it's that your gifts should never be taken for granted. You have to enter into this fully, with pure intentions and a good heart. And it's not something you can do part time either. If you agree then you will come with me now and I will teach you all that I can and introduce you to the Gwithiaz.”

  “I thought the Gwithiaz were dead?” Kiera asked confused.

  “They were,” Mags confirmed, “but they are back too. You have been assigned your own protector just like the witches of old. He's been waiting for you.”

  “What does he need to protect me from?” Kiera asked nervously. “The Creatures aren't back too, are they?”

  “No,” Mags laughed, “don't look so worried. Nature has assigned you a Gwithiaz, we don't question why.”

  The idea of being followed around by some random guy didn't particularly appeal to Kiera. She was silent for a moment.

  “Why? Why are we back after all this time?”

  “I can't answer that,” Mags replied honestly, “we just have to be glad and believe that the time is right. You must understand how momentous this is. There are those, myself included, who have been dreaming of this day for many years.”

  “What about my job at the supermarket?”

  “You give it up,” Mags told her firmly, “you have no life outside of your teachings.”

  “Friends?”

  Mags shook her head. She looked at the lonely card on Kiera's mantelpiece, “Do you have any?”

  “Yes,” Kiera said defensively, “back in Leeds and one here…”

  Her voice trailed off as she thought about how pathetic she sounded. She liked Stacey. She wasn't ecstatic about the idea of giving up everything to go and learn magic on the say-so of an old woman she had just met. Perhaps there was a logical explanation for what had happened yesterday, one that wasn't sprinkled in fairy dust, she just hadn't thought of it yet.

  Mags could see her hesitation, her internal struggle between brain and heart. She began to rise from the chair, leaning heavily on her walking stick. Kiera rushed to help her. Once Mags was standing she gently pushed Kiera backwards, directing her with her walking stick, into the centre of the room.

  “Close your eyes,” Mags instructed.

  “What for?” Kiera asked suspiciously.

  “I'm going to make you believe,” Mags whispered, “now close your eyes.”

  Kiera sighed and then did as she was told.

  “Before we start I should mention that technically I'm a novice at this myself. I may have read many books but, as I've already mentioned, due to a lack of witchcraft for the last couple of hundred years I haven't exactly had chance to gain much experience in the field so to speak.”

  “Noted,” Kiera said, feeling a little foolish and debating whether to open her eyes and put a stop to the whole thing.

  “We're not going to do any particular spell. We aren't even going to concentrate on any particular purpose. The aim of this is just for you to become aware of your powers,” Mags spoke in hushed tones and Kiera had to strain to hear her, “to do that I just want you to shift your focus inwards. Forget about any other sounds, like the cars in the road outside or even the sound of my voice. I just want you to think about what's going on inside you. Whilst you block out all the other external distractions I want you to visualise that you're back at Tintagel Castle, I want you to see the sea and the crashing of the waves. I just want you to concentrate all your attention on the power behind those waves and then whatever it is you're feeling I want you to release it.”

  Kiera did as Mags said. She could visualise Tintagel clearly, she saw it as she had seen it the previous day. She pretended she was lying on the rock again watching the ocean beneath her. As she did so she became aware of a sensation in her body that started off as a slight tingle, but then gradually increased until it felt as though her whole body were vibrating. It was the same feeling she had experienced at Tintagel, as if something other than blood was coursing through her veins, making them throb. It took her breath away, it felt as though she was losing control of her body and she was frightened, worried her body might explode with the pressure. She cried out and heard Mags's voice, “Release it.”

  Release it how? She thought panic stricken.

  She raised her hand and felt a force in her fingertips. She wasn't even sure how she did it. One moment she was scared her insides were about to become outsides and the next she felt a sense of relief as the sensation left her. She opened her eyes. She was sweating and Mags was smiling proudly.

  “What the hell was that?” Kiera gasped.

  “Magic,” Mags breathed, “we just witnessed magic for the first time in two hundred years.”

  She inclined her head upwards and when Kiera looked up she gasped. There was a crack running the whole length of her ceiling.

  “Did I do that?” she asked in shock.

  “It seems you're more powerful than I anticipated,” Mags conceded, “certainly not bad for your first time.”

  “I broke my ceiling,” Kiera said aghast, “my landlord will have a fit.”

  “Actually I think you broke the building,” Mags told her casually, “and I'd bet you also knocked out the power in some of the surrounding estates. I'm
going to suggest we evacuate. I'm not a qualified surveyor but you just split the building in two, I don't think it's safe anymore.”

  Kiera frowned at her sceptically until she heard a cracking sound from above her as the ceiling continued to split. A small amount of plaster broke away and landed at her feet. She ran to the window and looked out. People were rushing out the front door and had started to congregate out the front of the building, looking up at it in horror.

  “And since you're now technically homeless and clearly in possession of powers you don't know how to control I'll ask you again, would you like to grab your things and come with me?”

  As the fire alarm sounded Kiera raced to her bedroom. The building was coming down, she didn't have time to get her clothes but there were a few things she wasn't going without. She reached under her bed and took out Harriet (a ragdoll her dad had bought her many years ago. They'd been through a lot together and she wasn't about to abandon her now) and the only photos of her dad that she had. She retrieved his wedding ring from a box on her dresser and slipped it into her pocket. When she exited her bedroom Mags had already left, although she hadn't got far. In the hallway the ceiling seemed to be splintering away at an alarming rate and dust was falling making it hard to see through a gritty fog.

  People rushed past screaming and shouting but Mags shuffled along. Kiera took hold of her arm and tried to propel her down the corridor but she shrugged her off.

  “Why are you young'uns always in such a rush?” Mags complained.

  “Because the building is about to come down on top of us,” Kiera replied tensely, really wishing her flat had been on the first floor rather than the third.

  They reached the second floor and Mags stretched before continuing.

  “Oh all these aches and pains,” she grumbled, “I remember a time when I could have leapt down these stairs like a gazelle, seems a long time ago now.”

  The wall next to them began to crumble away and the whole building shook. Sirens could be heard outside.

  “I don't know about leaping like a gazelle but we are about to be as dead as a dodo if you don't hurry!” Kiera cried in frustration.

  When they finally reached the front door they were greeted by a fireman who helped to pull them to a safe distance. Mags took hold of Kiera's hand and guided her to an old blue polo parked up the street. They climbed inside and sat while Mags panted and took time to catch her breath.

  From the safety of the car they watched people being cleared from all the surrounding homes and then, with a sudden final crack, the building collapsed in an explosion of dust and debris. Kiera watched in disbelief as her home and possessions disintegrated in front of her. She was flooded with guilt at what she had caused.

  “I did this,” she whispered.

  “So,” Mags said turning to her, “do you believe in witchcraft now?”

  Chapter Eleven

  Kiera loved Mags's home. A gravel path took her through a garden bursting with colour to a wooden front door with a brass knocker shaped like a pixie. Mags lived in a small cottage and Kiera stepped into a dimly lit hallway with a living room, kitchen and a small study/ library branching off. A rickety looking staircase led up to two bedrooms and a bathroom.

  The first thing Kiera did was smack her head on one of the wooden beams but, once she got used to ducking from the low ceilings, she was besotted with the simple charm of the place. There was an open fire in the living room with a pile of logs next to it. The study bubbled over with books - they lined the walls and were even piled up in the corners, with only enough space for a desk and a chair in the middle. The kitchen was large and old fashioned (like the rest of the cottage), made from smooth oak and with a large agar as the focal point. Judging by the well-stocked spice rack and vast selection of cookbooks Kiera guessed Mags to be a talented cook.

  Kiera fell in love with her bedroom instantly. It had a small window so wasn't very well lit, but rather than this being a problem Kiera found it appealing. It was a pleasant hideaway with a wooden bed and wardrobe and there was a well-used writing desk with a chair beneath the window.

  It was a little depressing moving in due to the fact that Kiera didn't actually have any stuff to move in. Everything she owned was now a pile of rubble that she didn't really want to return to. She couldn't bear to face her recently-made homeless neighbours, knowing that it was her fault. Thank god no-one was hurt.

  She arranged the photos of her dad on the writing desk and placed Harriet in pride of place on her bed. Then she sat down next to Harriet and looked around. She should get frames for the photos. Actually, now that she thought about it, it was strange she hadn't done so already. She stared at the photos for a moment longer then she rose to her feet and quickly took them down again. She put them away in a drawer in the desk, along with his wedding ring. She wasn't ready yet; wasn't ready to look at him all the time and be reminded of how much she missed him.

  She distracted herself by walking over to the window and taking in the surrounding views. The cottage was in an isolated location with the closest neighbour about half a mile away and open fields between them.

  Mags ambled in with a bundle of clothes in one hand and her walking stick in the other. She dropped the clothes on to Kiera's bed looking pleased with herself, “I don't wear these anymore so feel free to wear whatever you like. They'll be a bit baggy but they should tide you over until you can buy some more.”

  Kiera tried to look grateful, despite groaning inwardly, “Thank you.”

  “I've put the kettle on so if you're settled why don't you come down for a cuppa.”

  “I didn't exactly have much to settle,” Kiera said, laughing sadly, “only a toy and a few pictures. I'll probably pop into town tomorrow.”

  Mags glanced around, “What pictures?”

  “Oh, I need frames for them,” Kiera said hurriedly, “do you need a hand with the tea?”

  “No,” Mags shook her head, “you just make yourself at home.” She made her way back to the door, then turned and said proudly, “I just want you to know that it's a real honour to have you here Kiera.”

  Kiera smiled , “Thank you.”

  Kiera remained staring at the door after Mags had left. What was she doing? Her home and possessions had been destroyed, she'd moved in with an old woman she'd only just met and she was about to learn magic. And perhaps the worst part was that, unless she wanted to offend Mags, she was going to have to wear old lady clothes. This truly was a very strange day.

  Downstairs Mags had made her a cup of tea and put out a plate of homemade cakes which Kiera instantly delved into, suddenly realising how hungry she was. Mags seemed pleased that Kiera was enjoying her cooking and Kiera wondered whether Mags had any family. She didn't like to ask but, when she followed Mags through to the living room, she noticed a photo on the mantelpiece of a young girl and seized the opportunity to be nosey.

  “Is she a relation?” Kiera asked, nodding at the photo.

  Mags's face dropped slightly and Kiera instantly regretted asking.

  “Yes, she's my daughter,” Mags replied and looked uncomfortable for a moment. They lapsed into an awkward silence before Mags sighed wearily and elaborated, “She lives abroad so I don't see her much.”

  “I'm sorry.”

  “She lives in America,” Mags continued, “neither of us can afford to visit each other and we…well, we had a falling out many years ago. We made up but we don't really talk much. We do talk sometimes on the phone and she always rings on special occasions, Christmas, birthdays and such…”

  Kiera nodded, “I'm sure she'd visit if she could. Flights are expensive from America.”

  “Yes,” Mags agreed quickly and then repeated unconvincingly, “I'm sure she'd visit if she could.”

  Mags looked down at her tea cup and when she looked up again her expression was sincere as she said, “I'm very glad you agreed to come and stay Kiera. It's nice to have you. And I want you to know that I'm going to do it right.”

&
nbsp; It was plain that Mags could've added 'this time' on the end of that sentence. Did she think helping Kiera would make up for the bad relationship she had with her daughter? Did she think Kiera could somehow replace her estranged daughter? Perhaps this lonely old woman had tricked her into believing all this magic nonsense just so she wouldn't be alone. Then again, splitting an entire building in two was one hell of a trick.

  Kiera was embarrassed but managed an uncertain smile, “Thanks.”

  However, Kiera surprised herself by having a relaxing and enjoyable day with Mags. They drank cups of tea and Kiera browsed through the treasure trove of books and wandered round Mags's beautifully-kept garden whilst Mags informed her of the names of the plants and herbs.

  It was a balmy evening so they ate dinner outside. Mags made a vegetable stir-fry and let Kiera help with peeling and chopping. Then they ate it with a glass of wine and sat back and soaked up the warm evening. They listened to the last of the birdsong as dusk slowly fell, and they looked on in silence as a view made up of fields and flowers, hills and trees, a view that was seemingly untouched by mankind, sank gradually beneath a light grey blanket; a blanket that covered the bright summer colours and yet brought with it its own beauty. They were still sitting, watching and listening, when the stars emerged and the grey turned to black. Kiera realised that it had been a while since either of them had spoken and was surprised at how comfortable she felt. The only other person she had felt this at ease with was her dad.

  Mags broke the silence, “What does the moon mean to you?”

  Kiera looked up at it and frowned. The part of the moon that was visible glowed down at them, lighting a faint path across the fields, “It's just the moon. Why? Should it mean something?”