The Séance

chapter 9

It was gray and drizzly when Anestasia woke up. She felt dazed, until she remembered Steve was also a guy! She jumped out of bed and pulled on the first things she found to wear- a holey sweatshirt, and paint spattered jeans. It was 6:45, the time she normally woke up on a school day. Ugh, I hate getting up this early when I don't have school! I'm not even going to get a nap today, there's so much to do! I can go get the agrimony now, then bring a couple of floor lamps to the den for light. The twins, Trevor and Travis, go to school in an hour. Steve will be able to start my training then. I still need to read the darn journal. I hope the stuff in there doesn't happen again. I also have to make the bags for the house spell, and the amulets for the amulets.

Well nothing will get done if I don't start. Anestasia hurried downstairs for a rushed breakfast of cereal, put on a hooded raincoat, and went to the side of the highway headed toward town. She harvested plants for an hour. Extras won't hurt; I can dry the rest and store them in my cubby.

"Are you a Pooka, Steve?" Anestasia asked. "I only ask because you can shapeshift between several different animals, and to human, and because you have cat hair in human form."

"If you must know, yes," said Steve disdainfully. "You've studied more than I thought, human. I am also a good teacher. We will train until Rachel brings the herbs. You know how to cast a good circle and summon spirits. That is fine if you know who's around, but as you've found doing a broad casting is dangerous."

"To call a specific spirit, or a specific kind of spirit, you add the information into the summoning. As an example, using what you've read so far in the book, If you want to call for Mr. Maxwell, you would use his name and any genealogy you have for him. As you know he was a witch hunter, and what year you are looking for, you would also add that information. The more specific you summoning the better." Steve explained "If you just called for a spirit in Wardwell that witnessed the events of 1680, you might get one of the Janni brothers. They may not be in a friendly mood. The more exact you are in your spell work, the better your results will be," Steve lectured. "There are also different purposes for a circle. It can be used to keep things in, like for summoning. If you are outside the circle and summon to within the circle, what you summon can't get out. If you are inside the circle things can't get in. Therefore, if you are asking to speak to spirits that are present, you stay in the circle-as you did."

"Now, lets start drying your agrimony in the oven to better preserve it, both for in the pendant, and for your stores. As you have some herbs in your stores already, I'm guessing you know how, but walk me through it anyway."

"Fine, first you rinse your herbs and dry them with paper towels. Next, you line a baking sheet, delicate herbs need the stems removed before drying, hearty herbs the stems will separate on their own. If you're not sure, separate them. Third, spread the herbs so that they don't touch in one layer and bake in the oven at its lowest setting for thirty minutes to start. Start checking them, and if they aren't dry at thirty minutes, check every ten until they are done. Also, use a wooden spoon to prop the oven door open so that moisture doesn't build up hindering the drying process. Is that right?" Anestasia asked.

"Exactly, now do so."

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Anestasia was relieved to see Rachel at noon. Steve turned back into a cat when the doorbell rang. Rachel stayed long enough to eat her lunch after dropping off the herbs, then went back to school. Anestasia went straight to working with the herbs. She put the angelica and mullein in cheesecloth bags, then started on the amulets. She put a sliver of mandrake root (cut while wearing surgical gloves), two dried leaves of agrimony, and a pinch of St. John's wart, into little Guatemalan style woven bags. Finally, she attached a fire agate to the bag's cords with wire, sealing the mixture so that it couldn't be tampered with.

The boys would be coming home in an hour or so, so Anestasia told Steve she would be working on the journal until they got home. She would work on her school work after they got home, but before dinner. She would look through the grimoire after dinner. Anestasia opened the journal.

When we got back to the village a man rushed up to us declaring that his daughter had been bewitched by Braun Janni, and had was now missing. He claimed that his farm had flooded in September, after he refused to give Braun her hand. She is gone now, left in the night wearing only her night rail. All of her other belongings were left behind. With what we found in the ashes, I must agree that this must be stopped, and that it is clear who the culprit is.

Braun did not deny any of the charges, but went to the jail willingly. The girl was found used, beaten, and tossed in a corner on the floor like trash. Her gown was torn, a knife sticking out of her belly it's hilt bruising her flesh. It is forgone what his punishment shall be.

The women of the town have claimed the body to prepare it for burial. The priest has said his prayers over her. While her family digs the grave, the other townsmen have set up a stake and started piling kindling around it for the pyre. Against my wishes, they are preparing another for Frederica Langsteiner. The other foreigners have been driven from the village like mangy curs. I am certain there will be consequences for the town.

There is a full moon this All Hollows Eve, as the pyres are lit. Braun laughs and claims that death will not stop him. He claims that he has been promised worship, and vengeance over his enemies. The priest said "Thou shalt worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only."

"And so shall I be! Braun shouted as he burned.

Mistress Langsteiner did no shouting or screaming, but she did say calmly, but with sadness in her voice "In the appointed time shall come a defender, and protector of the people. Someone who will send the soul of Braun where it belongs, but in the meantime disaster would fall anytime there was a full moon on the night of the burnings."

The townsfolk jeered at her, even as they had cowered before Braun. Some, though, murmured uneasily, "Surely Braun is now where he belongs. What does she mean?"

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It has been a month now, and conditions have rapidly worsened. There are wild storms and cyclones twice and thrice a week. The man whose daughter was taken, has died. As have all of the souls in his house. The home of the village headman, burned to the ground in the middle of a storm. The elders are hiding in cellars, having sent their families inland.

The winter solstice draws near, and the sky is black. I am leaving now, but later, if time comes to rebuild, I will return and hide this journal for the one who is coming. Be watchful. God bless.