The next couple days flew by. Although school dragged on for what seemed like years, it was bearable because I knew as soon as I got home I would be able to talk with Destin again. He was the best friend I had been longing for. We could talk for hours, and our conversations were usually accompanied with howling laughter and beaming smiles.
It was not long before I began to notice the way we talked became more tender and gentle. Could I be falling for him? No. You can’t fall in love with a ghost …Right?
One day, while I was working on homework in the basement, a thought occurred to me, and I had to ask. “Destin, is there a reversal for your curse?” He looked at me and something flickered in his eyes. Hope, maybe?
“I don’t know,” he replied. “The witch kept her spell book in her house. I don’t know anything about the curse.”
“Where was her house?” I asked, “Maybe it’s still around.”
“Two houses down,” he said, pointing to the north, “the red one with the white trimming.”
“I’ll go look!!!” I jumped up and sprinted up the stairs and through my front door. I arrived, gasping, at the door of a red house. After I had already rung the doorbell, I realized I had no plan for convincing the people that were currently living here to let me search their house for a book. Oops. I turned to leave when the door opened behind me and Megan stepped out.
“Hey Cea!” She exclaimed. “Whatcha doin’?”
“I-um-can I come- I mean--you live-um-I need to find a book… It’s important.”
“What kind of book?” She asked while gesturing for me to come inside.
“A spell book. It would probably be old and dusty and-“
“Oh my gosh!!!” she jumped up and down and grabbed my hand. “You’re one too!”
What is she talking about? “Um yeah, I don’t know, I just-“
“C’mon!” she dragged me upstairs to her bedroom and, after reaching under her bed and taking out an ancient book, she plopped down onto her bed. “This is the spell book of Abigail Williams who was actually a witch during the Salem Witch Trials. My ancestors were friends of hers and took care of the house after she died. Witchcraft has been in my family ever since.”
She looked at me with shining eyes and handed me the spell book. “Here. Take it home and read it and meet me here tomorrow.”
Then, after shooing me down the stairs and out the front door, she shut the door and my face and left me standing on her porch. “Okay…” I muttered as I slowly walked back to my house.
When I arrived in the basement, Destin appeared in front of me with a loud bang. Seeing the question in his eyes, I held up the book and jumped up and down.
“I got it!” I exclaimed. I ran and gently placed the book on the center table. However, when I opened the book, the words were written in a foreign language; I couldn’t read it. I was near tears when he said, “I can read it, don’t fret. Lillian taught me. It’s very simple.” He began to explain the process, and suddenly, the letters began to move. Then, with a start, I realized I was able to read it!
I flipped to the end of the book, wincing every time the spine made a cracking noise. Arriving at Abigail’s last entry I saw, written in fancy script, a letter to Lillian. It read:
Dearest Lillian,
Included below are the components of the spell to reverse the curse on Destin. I caution against using it, as I am sure he would not hesitate to betray you again. Please use wisdom and listen to your brain along with your heart; you will realize why I urge you to use prudence when you see the spell.
Your mother,
Abigail
hfs_aobmc_
“It’s a spell, Cea! A particularly easy one, too,” exclaimed Destin, “you could even perform it!”
“How? I don’t know what to do!” fear washed over me as he began to get more excited.
He quickly explained what each of the symbols meant, how many times I was to repeat them and in what order. I echoed them back to him to be sure I got the pronunciation correct.
Before I started the spell, he explained that I was to place my name in the first blank, and his in place of the second blank. I nodded, feeling extremely overwhelmed. However, there was one thing I wanted him to know before I began the spell.
“Destin, I just want you to know, I-I think I’m in love with you.” I couldn’t bring myself to look into his eyes, for fear of what I would see there.
He hesitated, deep in thought, until he declared firmly, “Cea, fear not, for I know that I love you.” When I looked into his eyes, I felt the same sense of security I had always felt with him. He continued, “As soon as I’m solid, I’m going to give you a hug, and maybe even a kiss.” He winked and gazed into my eyes.
All it took was one glance for my heart to melt, and I snatched the book from the table and began chanting the spell.
