AWAITING IN THE DARK

Chapter 7

I walk into my house feeling winded. How was Noah able to transport me so quickly? Where did he go? All my life my mother has never transported us anywhere with magic. Does that mean Noah knows more magic than my mother? Could his magic be stronger than any other witch or warlock I know? Could he possibly be practicing black magic?

Black magic. Rarely used by any witch or warlock in our coven. Dangerous to meddle with. If you don't know what you're doing, it can leave you open to spiritual attacks. Those are not good by any means. Almost impossible to fight off. I shudder to think of the aftermath of someone using black magic without skills, experience, and knowledge. Not only would they be putting themselves in danger but they would also be putting the coven in danger.

Trying to get my mind off of Noah, I call my best friend Courtney. I ask her if she wants to come over and watch some movies, and she says yes.

I grab bags of popcorn to prepare for Courtney's arrival. Popping popcorn shouldn't be a difficult magic task. I concentrate on the bag as I chant a spell I learned from one of my books. The bags start to expand as they start to make popping sounds throughout the kitchen.

The problem is that the popcorn stopped popping, and the bag is smoking. Smelling the smell of burnt popcorn in the air, I try every spell I can to make it stop. Nothing is working. Quickly I run to the sink grabbing a glass of water. I throw the water on the bags of popcorn hoping that would work.

It didn't.

I grab the bags of popcorn individually while doing a hot potato dance and open them. I place the bags of popcorn under the running water and gag. The smell in the kitchen is horrible.

I hear a knock on the door and go to open it. Outside stands Courtney with her bag on her hip and her mobile phone in her hands. Her blonde hair reaches her waist and her brown eyes gleam with excitement.

"I'm ready for movie night!" The country says, jumping up and down.

"Come in"

"What's that smell? " Courtney gags.

"Uh . . . Popcorn. "

"You burnt the popcorn?" Courtney asks sadly.

"Oops. " I say

"That's so sad. You don't know how to make popcorn. "

"I do know how to make popcorn. I was just trying to make popcorn with magic. "

"See, I think that's where you messed up. " Courtney comments.

"You think?"

"Definitely."

Courtney walks towards the pantry and grabs more bags of popcorn. She takes the plastic off the bags and places them on the counter. Courtney starts to chant a spell. Suddenly, the bags of popcorn are popped, and there's no unnecessary smoke coming from the bags.

"Wow. Thanks, " I say appreciatively.

"It was nothing. Really. " Courtney says with a smile.

We place the popcorn in a bowl and go sit on my couch. Courtney chooses a horror movie and turns off the lights. I hate horror movies. Feeling fear run through my body I start to panic halfway through the movie.

My phone starts to ring.

Unknown number.

I'm not answering that.

It continues to ring while I feel myself becoming more frightened as the movie plays on the screen.

Suddenly I get a text.

Are you in danger? - unknown number

That's weird.

No - Juliet

Good to know. I would be the utmost appreciative if you could do us both a favor and calm yourself. - unknown number

That is super creepy. I look at Courtney to see if she could be playing a joke on me but she doesn't have her phone out. Her complete attention has been captured by the movie.

Who is this? - Juliet.

No reply.

How am I supposed to sleep after watching this movie?

It's been two hours. Courtney is already asleep on the couch. I'm laying in my bed hoping nothing evil is going to pop out of my closet.

Rolling over to my right side, I grab my phone.

I decide to text the random number.

How did you know I wasn't calm? - Juliet

I could feel your panic. - unknown number

That's impossible - Juliet

Is it? - unknown number.

Great. I will never get sleep now.