The Witch Doctor

C. 4

Chapter 4

Black Doors and Fruit

"Today we go outside. Micko. I'd like you to try ane keep up with the rest of us. It seems you lack behind. In this coven those who are lag behind become sacrifices. I wouldn't like to see that happen to you."

I wasn't sure if Genesis Bah was joking with me or not. Whether or not he was joking didn't mean much to me either way. The threat seemed very real. The idea of being a sacrificed had crossed my mind several times. I'm not sure whether or not it had come to me in a dream or whether my live conscious has invented the possibility. The reality of the situation was disguised by his humor. He smiled when he said it. Brandon laughed as though Bah had said the funniest thing in the world. The others were all amused. I had become the joke in the coven. Even Mason smirked.

It had been a week since Bah had come back to the class. The others had begun to excel. The Atwood's proficiency was rivaled only by Brandon at times. They have become so proficient in healing their cuts that they had begun cutting one another and made a joke of it. Rio and his twin followed close behind. I still remained the last one...each and every time to heal.

Mason always waited for me...even now as I lagged behind the others followed Bah out of the tower Mason waited for me.

"Understanding blood is only part of sacrificial magic," Bah explained, "Our magic depends on relationships more than others. The relationships that we are able to build with our ancestors is key. The closer the bond you have to a spirit the more they are willing to do for you. My mother is dead. In order to have her perform an act for me from the afterlife I don't have to do much. She already loves me. However if there is a spirit that does not know me, I'd have to sacrifice more. You must persuade that spirit with your sacrifice."

"How do we know which spirits to sacrifice to?" Melody asked.

We were outside in front of a yard that spooned the fogged forest in the distance. It was the first time I had been outside. The weather here was warm and moist. There was no one else outside. The forest seemed to be alive and a part of me imagined that it was looking back at me as I peered into it.

"We are all connected to these spirits. You will come to know them. You will know their names. You will know their identities and they will become your friends. I need someone to help me out with a demonstration."

"I can," Brandon immediately jumped forward.

I didn't expect anything less of him when it came to Bah.

"No. Melody...close your eyes and extend your hand."

I watched as the Atwood did as Bah told her to do. I was intrigued by it just as everyone else. As Melody extended her hand.

From the forest something came at Melody. Her eyes opened but she didn't jump back in fear. I was surprised that she didn't. Angelica who was close to her even took a few steps back as though puzzled at that point. Melody didn't though. She seemed to welcome whatever came her way and when the creature landed on her hand we realized that it was a black crow. I wondered who was responsible for calling the bird. Was it Bah or was it something that Melody herself had done? I wasn't really sure but at the same time I wasn't really impressed. This wasn't magic. The bird could have been a trained pet for all I knew.

"Crows are some of the smartest animals in the animals kingdom. They are capable of learning pieces of the human language. When I was a kid I used to watch as the crows threw down nuts in front of cars so that they would crack open," Bah said.

"We walked all the way out here to handle crows?" Mason asked.

I smirked. Mason was probably talking about the fact that Bah went on to pet the bird that was in Melody's possession. Melody was smiling as though already she had formed some sort of connection to the bird. He was irritated as usual. I had to admit. I didn't have much patience for this either. Bah was long winded at times. What was the point?