CACKLE- Book 1

Chapter Eight

The first step of the spell requires the conjurer to invoke protection around their circle. A circle is not required for all magic, but it definitely helps to amplify a witch's powers.

Anna watched, tears streaming down her face as the wind whipped her silver hair around her. The voice that came out of Remi was booming when she spoke, louder and deeper than anything Anna had ever heard. It was the voice of her ancestors aiding her in her spell as she spoke.

"I call upon the guardians of the North, of earth, to witness my rites and guard my circle.

I call upon the guardians of the South, of air, to witness my rites and guard my circle.

I call upon the guardians of the East, of fire, to witness my rites and guard my circle.

I call upon the guardians of the West, of water, to witness my rites and guard my circle.

Mother Earth, I call you.

Father time, I call you.

Goddess, mother of magic, I call you."

Green flames erupted. Remi's entire body was enveloped in them. Her night gown burned away as an icy hot blue core coated her body. It radiated with green fire that licked at the wind swirling around her. When she had invoked water it swirled through the air. Streams of crystal clear liquid circling at a distance as her green flames grew higher and the blue heat on her skin burned brighter.

Anna gripped the rocks on the side of their cave as the earth below her began to shake. The water in their cove began to bubble, small silver fish leaped from it as they boiled alive. Stones began to tumble from the walls. Anna could barely see now, covering her eyes from the light as Remi shone so brightly it was hard to watch.

It was time for Anna's sacrifice. Her voice was strong and true as she spoke;

"Goddess, mother of magic.

Father time, we call upon you to aid us.

We ask that you see the gifts of the witch before you, unlike any other.

We ask that you bring her back to the first day of her creation.

I offer myself as payment.

I offer myself to you."

With that, Remi's fire spread like tentacles. Swirling through the cave, reaching for Anna.

A conjure of air lifted Anna off her feet, sucking the breath from her lungs as her face shook violently with pain. Eyes wide, she was unable to move, petrified by magic. The fire reached her then, slithering around her feet and up her legs. Her skin boiled and blistered, her face contorting into a soundless scream. Blood began to run from her eyes, her ears, coating her silver hair as it whipped around her face.

Remi watched in horror as Anna wordlessly moved her lips. She mouthed 'I love you', before her eyes turned black, melting out of her head. Her skin and hair burned off, her body was black as it singed, falling to the ground in a lifeless husk.

Remi wanted to cry, scream, run, and stop this now. She knew though if she stopped it- she would not have another witch to try again. She would never see Anna alive again. There was no stopping it now.

Remi's body felt white hot, she could feel her limbs trembling from the sheer power, before they went numb. The magic was working. Their offer had been accepted.

Now it was Remi's turn to burn.

"From the ashes I will rise. From the earth I will be reborn!"

Remi's voice was hoarse as she screamed the final words to the incantation.

Darkness crept into the corners of her vision. The pain was unbearable. The heat was ripping her skin apart, water and wind licking at her open wounds as her legs dissolved into ash. She could see her hands crumble away into black dust. The pain was overwhelming her now. She finally gave in, unable to keep herself calm. She knew she was screaming, she could feel it- but no sound came out. The only sound she could hear was the sizzling of her skin as the blood runes burned her body away. It was the last sound she would hear before the emptiness of death consumed her.