Redemption

Chapter Six: The Spell

Instead of delving into my unrealistic delusion, I turned and walked to the other side of the room where a reading area was set up. Built in shelves surrounded me, holding hundreds of different books that were begging to be read. I pulled out one of the large, leather-bound volumes, the damaged and discolored paper divulging that the book was much older than I was.

I carefully opened the cover, turning the delicate pages slowly to prevent causing them further harm. The first page of the book read "Libro de Magia" in big, bold words, with smaller font underneath translating to "Book of Magic".

I looked at Jerry and Kate in astonishment. It was one thing to hear of my loved ones practicing witchcraft, but it was another altogether to see the evidence.

"That's a good book," Kate said. "Very informative. A bit thick for a beginners book, but it's filled with many important spells." She paused for a moment, eyeing me. "Would you like to try one of them?"

"Katherine," Jeremiah said sternly.

"She's curious, Jerry, and she's entitled to test her magic if she chooses to," Kate said forcefully, pulling Lexi to a chair. Jerry hesitated for a moment as though torn, before joining us.

"I don't know," I said, alarmed. "I'm not sure I want to experiment with this stuff. It seems dangerous."

"It isn't dangerous with us here to help you. Besides, it's the only one way to help you understand your magic," Kate said, flipping through the various pages before settling on one. "Here we go."

She turned the book to face me. It was opened to a page labeled "Basic Mobilization of Inanimate Objects". Kate retrieved a pen from her pant pocket, and set it in the center of the side table between our chairs.

"We're going to do a simple incantation to make this pen move," Kate said, ignoring my bulging eyes. "The magical word for motion is 'motus'. All you have to do is concentrate everything inside of you on the pen and say the word."

I sat in silence for a minute, unsure. Kate sighed impatiently.

"Do you want to prove that magic exists or not?" Kate snapped. Taken aback by her crabbiness, I gave a small nod. "Then do as I say."

Feeling intimidated, I glanced down at the pen.

"Motus," I said nervously, my voice cracking. I almost lets out a sigh of relief when nothing happened.

"You have to focus all of your emotion into it," Kate said. "Go again."

I cleared my throat, and with more force, repeated the spell. "Motus," my firm voice said. But, once again, the pen didn't move. "It's not going to work. I told you, I'm not a witch."

"You're not even trying!" Kate shrieked in exasperation.

I furrowed my eyebrows, confused by her assertiveness.

"I have tried and nothing happened," I said through gritted teeth. "I wanted evidence that I didn't have supernatural powers, and this is my proof. I don't know what more you want from me." I was trying to be patient with Kate, but her suddenly hostile behavior was testing my temper.

"Oh, what a shock, Jerry. Two tries and she's giving up," Kate muttered. "Why should I be surprised that you're quitting? You've always given up. You stopped taking dance lessons when you fell at your spring recital. You deserted your bike for months after you flipped and broke your arm. You even quit summer camp after the first week because you were homesick. That's what you're good at apparently- quitting!" Kate shouted.