My whole body wouldn't stop shaking as I sat in the grass green velvet chair that had been worn down from years of use. The lady who I mindlessly followed into her little room sat down across from me. The room was raggedy from years of neglect with red walls that were blotched from grime. The ceiling was beginning to sag and even the little wooden table we were sitting at looked like it might fall apart at any minute. The room fit the scraggly old lady perfectly.
She smiled in a way that made my whole body shudder even more. I should run away, but something was keeping me here and I couldn't explain what. The old lady grabbed my hand turning it so she could see my palm. Candle light flickered around us giving her just enough light.
"What's your name?" I asked her quick and short.
"Lydia, now I will tell you about yourself and then I will tell you your future." She moved the candle over so she could see my hand a little bit better. Her dark eyes looking as if they could see right through me.
"I see that you are very smart and quick witted, but you lack wisdom and responsibility. You are quick to temper and impatient. You show some empathy and compassion, but not as much as some. I see that you are a romantic and very passionate. I also see that you are very loyal." Lydia spoke rather harshly and hurt came over me as she named my flaws one by one. I knew all these things already and all she was going was making my head hurt from hearing it again.
"You have a great will power within you. It will help you to achieve great things one day. You have the potential to find the love you have been waiting for, but right now it shows you are discontent and will struggle with your lovers because of it. I also see.." Lydia paused as her eyes grew wide looking at my palm and the flames of the candle began to flicker violently. " It can't be.. that coven was supposed to be done with."
Lydia looked up at me with her dark eyes glaring at me as if I was satan himself. She held tight to my arm as she got up and walked around the table glaring at me.
"Who are you and where did you come from!" She yelled yanking down the neckline of my dress almost ripping it. I shrieked out of fear but she held tight to the fabric revealing the green seal that seemed to glow in the light. It was the same seal that showed itself days ago, the one I was trying to forget was even there most of the time. "This coven it's supposed to be done with and all the witches done. Annette Ludham, she's buried and done for. You! You are coming with me."
"Wait, I don't know what you are talking about. I'm not a witch! Stop, please just stop." I begged pulling at her arm trying to get her to let go of me. My whole body began to shake violently and the lady let me go as I fell the ground and began to back away from me as much as I could.
"You have the seal that is from Annette's original coven, so yes you are witch. Only witches bear the marks." Lydia then pulled down at her neckline revealing another seal, this was was purple and had the most intricate design. It was much prettier than mine, but it still burned just as brightly. I held tight to my chest as I realized she was right, I bore the mark of the witch and in her eyes I was nothing more.
"I didn't ask for this mark. I was desperate to escape from an awful marriage so I ran to Mother Ludham for help. I blew out a candle and then I was on a ship to New Orleans with this mark."
"You are a stupid girl! You should never run to a witch like Mother Ludham for help, because what she wants in return is always much pricier that what she gives."
"I know that now, but I'm trying to fix it. She wants me to bring two servants to Annettes grave within the year. I don't think I can though, because I don't know what will happen to them. She told me though, that she always comes to collect." My voice shook as I spoke each word and Lydia grabbed tight to both of my shoulders and I could see how serious she was in that moment.
"Whatever you do, do not let that happen. Do not give into the unnatural urges that come over you. That is Mother Ludham possessing you. My coven, we can help you. You need to go to the green house just on the outer edge of New Orleans. Verity will be there and she can help you."
"Wait, how do I know how to find the green house?" I asked and Lydia just looked at me for a moment. I could see suspicion still lingering in her gaze.
"Just ask anyone, they will point you straight to it. Now go, before anyone finds you hear." Lydia said pushing me towards the door. I looked back at the old lady one more time. She was much less intimidating than Mother Ludham. Turning on my heels, I headed back to where the girls were all mingling with the men now. I'm sure they were all over the moon and without a care in the world, while I felt the weight of it on my shoulders.
The room was now coupled off as most of the girls had seemed to find one guy to talk too. Marie was sitting at a table enjoying a pastry as some man chatted to her quietly. Claire seemed to have completely taken over a conversation as she held an older man right in front of her telling some sort of story.
I looked around at the rest of the girls and then in the corner of my eyes I spied a man sitting by himself. He was now looking at me as if on cue. His eyes were so dark, they seemed deep and wise. His hair was close to black and he had some dark stubble on his chin. He stood up showing how tall and lean he was as he walked towards me.
"Could I buy you a drink?" He asked smoothly as he came up to me leaving only a few feet between us. He had to be at least a foot taller than me as I looked up at him. I didn't want to use anyone, but I was desperate and he might be my only way out.
"I would like that." was all I could croak out and he put his hand on the small of my back guiding me to the bar where an older man sat waiting on someone to need him.
"We'll have two Brandys." The man said as the bartender slide over two glasses of the alcohol.I eyed the glass of bronze liquid as the man downed his in two seconds flat.
"I never got your name." I asked and he smiled showing a nice smile.
"It's Luke and you don't mind if I ask yours?"
"It's Alice" I said my English accent thicker than normal.
"Well Alice, you have to be one of the prettiest girls here. I wasn't sure if I would find one I would like today." Luke said and I could tell he didn't have much experience with girls. Here in the New World apparently girls were hard to come by so I shouldn't have been surprised.
"What brings you here today then?"
"I want a wife. It gets lonely out in my home. It would be nice to have someone to come home too and keep me warm at night." Luke let out a burp right infant of me and I wanted to run away from the lack of manners. I especially didn't want to drink brandy straight either. I stood strong though.
"Why don't you come and call on me tomorrow? You could show me around town." I asked him and a sly smile came over his face. He ran his hand along my arm causing my whole arm to shudder and I pulled it back.
"Expect me tomorrow then. I'll come as soon as I am done with work for the day." Luke said leaning toward me. He wanted to kiss me, but I turned my cheek.
"It's a little sudden don't you think? I'll see you tomorrow?" I asked him and he seemed more than excited to show up. I wasn't sure how I was going to escape him once we got to the green house, but I would figure that out when I got there.
YOU ARE READING
Cursed and Sealed (ONC 2020)
Ficción histórica"I always come to collect what's mine, be sure of that." Mother Ludham's words rang in Alice' ears as she questioned if selling her soul to a witch was the best choice. It doesn't matter now, because it's too late. She is already on her way to the...
