Chapter 56
FIFTY-SIX
Morana could not see the bird anywhere. She had checked the Old Burying Point Cemetery where she had first met him.
Then she had followed her usual route home, the entire time checking the rooftops and trees along the way.
There was a sickness inside of her stomach not just from the tea.
She could feel that something was wrong, yet she didn’t know exactly what.
When she reached her apartment she hurried inside.
It was cold in here, but it wasn’t as dark as it had been.
This time when she turned on the light she could see into the corners, and she blew out a long breath.
Thank you, crazy, beautiful aunts. She was unsure whether it was because The Book of Black Magic was not currently in her possession or because of Sephy’s awful tea and Lenny’s protection pouch.
Either way what mattered was that she felt lighter, though not better.
She didn’t know how she would ever cope with the grief of what had happened to her best friend.
She grabbed her phone off the corner of the sofa and went to close the window that she’d left open for Hades.
The sea breeze was chilly tonight. As she stared out of the window, she saw a black cloud in the distance; it wasn’t a rain cloud.
It was more like the shadow that had been hanging over this apartment building.
She stared, convinced she saw a flash of red and purple shoot up into that cloud and her heart skipped a beat.
Someone was using The Book of Black Magic, she was sure of it.
Is that where Hades was? Had he been drawn to Clara now because she was in possession of the book?
That would make sense. He was in danger though because if he thought Morana was mean she was a pussy cat compared to Clara.
Tucking her phone into her hoody pocket she ran down the stairs out onto the street and headed in the direction of the dark shadow.
It was leading away from the wharf area towards the House of the Seven Gables.
A brilliant red spark flew up in the air and Morana began to jog towards the historic waterfront mansion.
She reached the entrance of the red brick pedestrian walkway, noticing the car park was empty, and she realised it was closed for the evening.
A loud cawing noise came from behind the entrance building, making her run towards the exit at the back, where there was a turnstile for visitors to leave through.
She clambered over it and then she was squeezing through the gate that hadn’t been closed properly.
Trying not to breathe too heavily, she tiptoed her way into the gardens.
The house was even more stunning than the Witch House, all splendid in black.
There were seven peaks that formed the building giving it its name, but it wasn’t the house Morana was interested in.
Clara would have to have serious friends to gain access to it after dark when it was closed and, somehow, she didn’t think Clara was the kind of woman who had any of those.
She got the impression Clara led an even lonelier life than she did.
The irony wasn’t lost on Morana. If she hadn’t met Dora and her aunts, this could be her in a few years, and she realised now more than ever that she did not want to be that woman, cold and all alone.
Another squawk came from the gardens near to the edge of the property that looked down onto the sea.
Morana peeked through the beautiful wisteria-covered walkway to see Clara in a long black dress, and in front of her on the grass was a black cauldron in which she had lit a fire that was glowing brightly.
On a table to the side of her was a small cage with Hades inside and next to him was The Book of Black Magic that kept sending out tiny zaps of red and purple into the night sky.
Morana thought about sending Dora a message then realised she didn’t even have her phone number.
She closed her eyes and tried to send her an SOS message then looked at the house and tried to send that image too.
No idea if she was delusional or if she could use her newfound power to do some good.
Nervous that she didn’t know what to do, she hesitated, until Clara, who was rubbing the palms of her hands together, pulled a small dagger out of her pocket and turned towards the cage.
‘I’m going to need you to keep still in a moment, bird. It won’t hurt. I’ll make it quick.’
‘Help, help, help.’ Hades was cawing into the night.
Then he began to let out loud non-stop caws, and Morana understood he was calling for help from his fellow crows.
She hoped to God there were enough of them nearby to hear him and attack that wizened old witch.
Maybe peck her eyes out for good measure.
Clara must have noticed what he was doing, as she opened the cage, grabbing him by the throat.
He began to flap his wings wildly and try to peck at her hands.
‘Let him go.’
Clara slowly turned to face Morana, her grip on the bird’s neck tight as she tucked him under her arm so he couldn’t fight with her.
‘I should have known you would turn up. Go home, this is not for you.’
‘I think you should go home, it’s not for you either. You have no authority here.’
Clara laughed, the sound shrill as it pierced the night. ‘You stupid, delusional girl, get out of here and let me be. I told you we’ll discuss this at the council meeting.’
Morana took a step closer to her. She needed to get near enough to lunge for Clara so she would let Hades go.
‘What council meeting? You have no intention of calling one! Do your fellow witches and council members know what you are doing?’
Clara paused before shaking her head.
‘I am the leader; I make the decisions.’ She aimed her finger at Morana and sent an electric pulse of energy her way, so strong it knocked her backwards. ‘Like I just said, you are no match for me now I have the book. Go home, child. Do not mess with that which you have no power over.’
Morana steadied herself, said a silent prayer for forgiveness and then raised her own index finger, copying what Clara had just done.
She closed her eyes and sent a bolt of energy so strong that it hit Clara dead centre in the middle of her chest, lifting her off her feet.
She let go of Hades who flew away to a tree behind Morana as Clara landed on her back, the wind knocked out of her.
She didn’t move. She lay there breathing heavily, and Morana wondered if she’d seriously hurt her.
She took a step towards her. ‘Look, it doesn’t have to be like this. I’m going to take the book now and you are going to get up and go home. We don’t need to fight over it.’
Morana walked towards the book. It was fizzing with energy and as she went to pick it up, she felt a pain in her lower back so intense it took her breath away.
Clara had stuck the small dagger into her left kidney.
Hades took off into the air, circling and cawing nonstop in a hurried manner.
The pain was so intense that Morana fell to her knees.
Clara stepped past her and picked up the book.
‘I needed a small, black animal for my sacrifice, but you’ll have to do.’
Shocked, Morana tried to get to her feet, but she had never been too good with blood and as she felt around the place where the dagger was sticking out of her back, her hands got slick with blood, her blood, and everything began to spin.
Clara leaned over her and yanked the dagger out. Blood dripping from it, she held it over the cauldron, letting Morana’s blood drip into the fire, then she held up her right hand and slit the skin along her thumb, letting that drip into the fire too.
Morana fell to the floor, helpless to do anything but watch as Clara began to chant.
‘Here I stand alone yet strong, I take that which is mine from where it does not belong, my power increased tenfold to anchor me.’
Hades swooped towards Clara, landing on her head. He began to claw at her hair and face, but she shielded her eyes as the bird attacked, and she laughed because she had nearly completed the power spell. He was too late to stop her now.