Vampire Hunter: Corey Crowgarden's guide to killing vampires for fun and profit.

Lesson 4 part 3

Crystal and Carrie gathered the few items they needed for the spell. It wasn't particularly complicated, most spells weren't. They took the items out to the gazebo, "Muriel's folly" and sat across from each other on the gazebo floor. The gazebo overlooked a garden, perhaps a bit overgrown since their grandmother had left them to tend it. Bobby wasn't much of a gardener, though he did cut the lawn and would check with Carrie's neighbour and aunt to see if he could cut their lawn too. It was their mothers older sister and husband who were the administrators of their grandparent's estate so they were allowed to stay as long as Carrie's aunt didn't make a fuss. It was late in the afternoon when they gathered the items. Bobby would have been pushing the lawnmower at their mothers house.
From above the mantle in the parlour they had taken a thick white candle and a silver candlestick holder, from the kitchen an old wooden cutting board that their grandmother had used many times. They had two sheets of their grandmothers stationary, her name Muriel embossed in gold at the top. Crystal pricked her finger and squeezed a small drop of blood into an ink pot and drew the ink into an antique quill pen. On one sheet she wrote "Yes" and the other "No" then on the reverse of the page she drew a pentagram.
"Ready?" Crystal asked her sister.
Carrie nodded and closed her eyes thinking of her maternal grandmother. She had always been kind, and never wrathful. She missed her grandmother a lot. She thought of times rolling dough for pies and cooking and baking with her grandmother. She dreamt with her eyes closed the songs she would hum, old songs that she had never heard on the radio and the smell of baking and cinnamon and spices.
Crystal, meanwhile prepared the board she set the candlestick between the yes and no. She lit the candle and let it burn for a moment, watching the still flame.
She gazed into the long, flame and then quietly whispered, "Muriel, Gran, are you here with us now? We miss your knowledge and your guidance." Most people would say it was just a trick of the wind, a little gust that made the flame flick for a moment to the "Yes" sheet. "Gran, we miss you so much. I am so sorry you were not there to see me marry my husband Tim, but I hope you were pleased that we brought flowers from the bouquet to your stone."
The flame danced a joyous little dance and flicked once again to the "Yes".
"We are always thinking of you and Grandpa. Carrie often bakes in the kitchen. I think of the love you and Grandpa had, all that time you spent together." She took a breath, "But now I am separated from my husband and I am very afraid. Is he safe?"
The flame stayed tall and straight and a thin plume of black smoke twisted in the air and the flame ever so briefly flicked to the "Yes".
Crystal's eyes started to tear up at the thought of Tim in trouble and danger, but safe.
"I know it is a lot to ask Gran, but will you look out for him, protect him and keep him safe? I love him very much and I don't know what I would do without him."
A large gust of wind blew out the candle and they both turned to look at the gazebo door.
They just hadn't latched it tight enough some would say, or maybe it was their grandmothers spirit making haste and leaving on it's errand.
The wind had blown the flame over the yes side of the page.
"Did you feel her?" Crystal asked.
"I think so," Carrie replied, "I just focused on the times we spent together, baking and sitting in here, reading. What do you think?"
"I think so," Crystal said, "but it's not like on TV."
"No, we don't have a special effects budget."
They went back into the house and put everything back.
"Thank you Gran," Crystal whispered looking at the text on the phone.

'I'm at the outhouse. Where are you??'

Tim