The Loyalty of a Witch

“Ten minutes left, Serena.” My mom yells from the basement. The entire family is down there waiting for me to finish. The Rathsblood drips on the floor as my hands shake pouring it into the measuring cup. Today is test day. Test day is about loyalty to one’s family and fellow witches; it is the most important day of a young witch’s life. It will solidify my place in the coven. My mom keeps telling me when I pass this test I will take my place as her successor. My family doesn’t know I want to leave the coven and today is my only chance to do it.  I am not like the rest of them. I am tired of being feared by everyone; it has ruined my life here.

I squeeze my eyelids shut and force a long deep breath as my fingers nervously tap the counter. My eyes start to tear up because I am purposely going to fail this test and it has been eating at my insides for months. I exhale and continue my test. A pinch of Cedar bark, one half aged rat tail and a squeeze of venom should finish the potion I am supposed to give to my best friend, Maisy. I let the concoction simmer for a few minutes. Wiping sweat from my face, I try to keep my breakfast from coming back up.

On one hand I am terrified of failing because I know as soon as my family knows, a sleep spell will be cast, and I will end up in the middle of nowhere with nothing. Leaving everything and everyone I’ve ever known behind and starting from scratch with literally nothing but the clothes on my back. On the other hand, I can’t keep living like this.

I hear my aunt Delia in my thoughts as I turn the stove off and remove the small pot from the burner. “Serena, I will find you no matter where they drop you. We are telepathically connected and you will be safe with me. My coven is expecting you.” Aunt Delia failed her test on purpose decades ago and was kicked out by the coven. My family never mentioned her, but she came to me one night in a dream. Oddly enough, she looked like Maisy. But I was struggling when I found out what my final test entailed and she felt it.

You see, my family is wicked and will do anything to control people to stay at the top of the proverbial food chain. For my final test, I must make a potion that will allow me to control people, and I must test it on Maisy. They have been using this potion for centuries to rule but the test is not about making the potion, but to make sure you will always choose your coven over everyone else.

“Time’s up, Serena.” Mom shouts.

I wipe my clammy hands on my apron and hear Aunt Delia again. “Make sure you grab some pure Weeping Tree to add later to make sure the potion doesn’t work.”

I run to the other side of the kitchen and stuff the Weeping Tree into my jeans pocket and make it back to the stove just as my uncle Eddy bursts through the door from the basement with an odd gadget that will test the potion for accuracy. “Oh, Serena, this is a great day for all of us. I couldn’t be prouder.” He said as he pinched my cheek. “OK let’s get this formality out of the way and get your place in the coven etched in stone for good.” He continued.

“Let’s get this show on the road” my mom yells clapping her hands. “I have been anxious about this day for six months.”

I feel lightheaded and I just want this to be over. Everything will go well until I give Maisy her coffee. After then, my family will know I failed and my life will never be the same.

“Serena, my dear, are you ok?” My mom asks as she makes her way to me.

“Yeah, mom, I’m just nervous. I hope I did everything right.” I lie.

“As long as you didn’t mess it up on purpose you will be safe.” She says with suspicion.

“It looks like the potion tested positive for everything. Stage one passed.” My uncle happily reports.

My mom throws her arms around me and says “See my darling? Nothing to be nervous about. Now hurry and take Maisy her coffee. Make sure she drinks all of it.”

***

Maisy only lives a few doors down from us so I couldn’t even get her a new coffee without being seen, but I have the Weeping Tree in my pocket, and I just have to figure out how to put it in there before anyone sees me. I’ll think of something and I better do it fast because she is sitting on the step of her veranda.

“Hey Serena.” Maisy smiles. “I didn’t know you were stopping over.”

“Yeah, I figured I would bring you some coffee. A small thank you for helping me the other day.”

“I will never say no to your coffee, it just tastes better when you make it and besides helping you was fun. You didn’t have to bring me coffee, but I’m glad you did.” She starts to reach for the cup when I have a brilliant idea.

“Oh, wait I want to add this to your coffee. I think it will help that back pain that you’ve been complaining about.” I take the small vile of Weeping Tree out of my pocket and put a few drops in the cup and swirl it around before I hand it to her. “Here ya go.”

“Aww thanks, Serena. You are always so thoughtful. Especially with all these cool natural remedies you have. No wonder people think you’re a witch.” She giggles. “You don’t look so good, a little pale. You, ok? Sit with me for a bit; it’s beautiful out.” She pats the spot next to her.

So, I do. Not only can I not go home just yet because I can’t go back too soon or my family will get suspicious but also because I want to soak up every minute I can with her because I know I will lose everything very soon. It’s funny that I feel like I’ve known Maisy my entire life even though we became friends only a year ago.

I downplay what is going on, but I have to tell her something; I know I look terrible. “I am just struggling with some family things, but it should work itself out soon.”  I say.

“I’m sorry honey; I’m here if you need anything. Maybe a hot guy I could hook you up with or a movie night.” She laughs.

We talk for a while, but I am overcome with exhaustion. Maisy looks at me and I can tell the potion isn’t working. Her eyes aren’t dilated and she still has life in her voice. Part of me is relieved but the other part is sad knowing this is the last time I will hang out with my best friend.  “Serena, go home and get some rest, would ya.” She says as I yawn. “But I do appreciate the coffee.” Maisey opens her arms for a hug, and I wrap my arms tightly around her.

***

The walk home is short but each passing second feels like an eternity. My mom is waiting for me at the front door. “OK my love, let’s see what you can do.” She says with a little too much excitement.

We go into the house, and the truth is not far behind. The family is seated around a long table that easily fits twenty people. The ceremonial crystal ball is surrounded by candles that sit in a line down the length of the table. I take my seat at the head with confidence. They think it is because I feel good about the test. Crazy, evil witches. Looking at each one of them I become more at peace with what is about to happen. Each one has the same look on their face. Their eyes are fixed on me like they are in a trance. Mouths twisted in crooked smiles almost salivating. It’s disgusting.

The chanting starts and I place my hands on the crystal ball. It glows red and I am now connected to Maisey’s thoughts. Her face shows in the crystal ball and I close my eyes pretending to try to control what she does next. I say “Maisy tie your shoe.” Nothing. “Maisy, tie your shoe.” I repeat.

“Maybe you need to try something a little different. Her shoe is probably tied already.” My sister suggests drooling at the thought of my failure.

“Maisy, walk into your kitchen now.” I command. Nothing.

My mom looks at me and knows something is wrong. “You betrayed us.” She snarls. “I am so disappointed in you, and you will never be welcome in this house. again” She yells as she points her finger in my direction.

***

I don’t know how much time has passed since I am finally able to open my eyes. The sun is bright and the slight breeze feels cool against my sweaty forehead. My mouth is dry and my stomach is trying to eat itself so I can only assume I have been out here for more than a day.  I look around and find I am literally nowhere. There are no houses, no businesses, no people; just desert as far as the eye can see. I throw my head back and look at the sky. “Anytime you want to show up Aunt Delia I’m ready.” Nothing. What if I imagined Aunt Delia’s voice the whole time? What if I am truly on my own?

It doesn’t matter if I imagined her or not. Maisy is safe and I am away from my family. That is enough motivation to get moving. I walk for hours but I don’t feel like I am getting anywhere and still no sign of Aunt Delia. I hear a voice behind me that made my stomach jump into my throat and I spin around only to see a familiar smiling face.

“Sorry I took so long getting to you, but the family put a cloaking spell over you as well as the sleep spell, so I had a hard time locating you.” Maisy smiles.

“Wait, what are you doing here?” I ask still not believing my eyes.

“I told you I would find you and bring you to my coven. Come on, we need to get a move on.” She waives me to follow her.

“Can you stop for a minute. Maisy, what is going on? How did you know where to find me?”

She turns to me with warmth in her eyes. “I am your Aunt Delia, love. I changed my appearance so the family wouldn’t recognize me so I could help you. Come on, we really need to get moving or we will miss the train.” She puts her arms around me and pulls me close. Rubbing my back she says, “We need to move if we are going to make it.”

My emotions get the better of me, and I start to cry from everything that has happened; I am having a hard time wrapping my head around what is going on. Aunt Delia lets go of me and grabs my hand and this time I don’t say anything and we start walking.

We stop a few minutes later and Aunt Delia keeps checking her watch. “Ah here it comes.” She says.

I look around and don’t see anything but desert. “Here what comes?” I ask.

“Look to your left, Serena.” She says pointing in the distance.

I see a train coming and I can’t believe my eyes. “Well, I’ll be damned.” I say.

Aunt Delia laughs. “You left your evil family; you are far from damned, my dear.”