Wiccan Act One: Occult

30 | Safety Net

Christian

XXX

Today was one of the hottest days of the year.

Never in his life did Christian think he would be walking around Oakwood in a t-shirt and shorts but here he was. Aiden on the other hand remained unaffected, wearing a washed-out moss green shirt with black skinny jeans from hot topic and a black denim jacket. After the cashier showed him and Cyrus the bill for Aiden's new outfit, Christian was sure he would never be able to afford anything ever again. Still, giving Aiden something he could call his own was eh least they could do.

Aiden stood there blowing in the wind with huge bags under his barely opened eyes. Each gust of air threatened to send him and the box of black velvet cupcakes in his arms toppling over. Christian took a few seconds to take in the sight, saddened by the state of his friend but ignoring it as Aiden made it clear he didn't want to talk about it.

The heat seemed to follow them into the library. Its usual cool interior and old paper smell being swapped out for the sweaty smells and steamy atmosphere of a sauna.

Mable sat at the front desk trying her best to untie the cable of an old desk fan. Christian approached with the loudest 'good morning', only to be brushed off immediately. He watched in silence as she finally got the last knot out and plugged the end into the extension cord near her foot. The tiny fan jumped to life waking Aiden up with its loud hum.

"This blasted thing is louder than my alarm clock!" Mable groaned. "Where the hell did this heat come from, anyway?" She rubbed her eyes in annoyance before finally acknowledging the boys.

"You're here early," she sighed. "You must want something."

"I came here with a gift," Christian said. He retrieved the grimoire from his bag, resting it on the desk before Mabel. Within its pages hung a thin purple string marking the page the petagram was drawn on. She raised her eyebrows, sceptical about what exactly he was showing her. Yet, she peeled back the black leather cover and looked through a few pages.

"Where did you get this?" Mabel asked. Before Christian could answer, however, she continued. "And don't say a school project."

"My uncle." Christian had enough time to come up with a lie on the drive-over. "He is really into supernatural phenomena too. He said if I could translate the bookmarked pages he would give me his autographed copy of Slaughterhouse-Five."

Mabel continued to look through page after page fascinated by its contents; each one filled with inked descriptions of spells in an unfamiliar language matched with pictures, runes and detailed drawings and instructions in different languages. She was hooked. She had to be for their plan to work. 

"I'm a librarian, not a translator," Mabel said. "It is way too early and way too hot for me to worry about your little bet with your uncle. Not to mention you haven't been doing your job. There are a bunch of unlabelled books in the back from last month's shipment." She hissed.

"You are aware that I don't work here right?" Christian regretted his comment the second he said it. Mabel's face hardened, her glare threatening Christian to give her one more smart remark.

"Fine," Christian gave in. "You translate while we organize the books. That's more than fair."

"Throw in those cupcakes and you've got yourself a deal." Mabel grinned eying the box in Aiden's arms. 

"You get two," Christian said.

"Do you want a translation or not? It doesn't sound like you do," she said, her voice playful and smug.