When Magic Speaks - NaNoWriMo 2020✔️

11

The sun had long gone that evening when Wiss awoke to an unfamiliar feeling. A sensation that swam from her head to the tips of her toes. Something was happening. She hadn't found it very hard to fall asleep at all in the tower. In fact, it was extremely cozy. But this feeling she felt was strong enough to bring her fully awake as she rose from the pillow. And then she spotted it - a faint blue light casting onto her window.

Wiss hadn't spoken to her grandmother since supper and maybe that was for the best. Amma was becoming more of a stranger to her every single day, but especially today. It was as if she didn't recognize her anymore and was just beginning to understand her all at once. The crammed clutter of information she'd been given had caused her head to spin all evening. Eventually she was able to just ignore it. But now her head was spinning for an entirely different reason. 

As Wiss slowly rose from the creaky bed, the floorboards beneath her squeaking their song as she crossed the room, she approached the window, the strange light growing stronger. What was that? It couldn't be the flame from a lantern, there was no such thing as a blue flame. Actually...based on recent events that was a possibility. Wiss's eyes followed the light source, dragging lower and lower to the meadow beneath. And then...she spotted it. Her grandma and...

Wiss left no time to react as she bolted from the window, sprinting down the hall to the stairs, practically leaping off of them. So high in fact that her ankles ached when she reached the main floor but she quickly brushed it off as she rushed to the front door. Wiss didn't want to startle the life out of Amma though, she knew she would if she burst through the door like a bat out of hell. So she quickly caught her breath and slowly pulled the front door open. It made a relatively loud groan as the chilly night air rushed into the room but Wiss could still hear her grandmother's voice talking to someone. Her hearing had become rather poor over the years but maybe that was an act too. Wiss almost winced at the temperature of the grass as it crunched beneath her but again, that didn't matter. She exercised caution as she slowly left the tower, turning to see her grandmother's back to her. The strange blue light lay right in front of the old woman as if...she was speaking to it. And as Wiss grew closer, she realized the strange light was a ghost.

Marma spoke in hushed tones to the spirit, her wrinkly hands wrapped around the ghost's translucent skin. She was whispering something to her but maintained a pleasant demeanour. Wiss watched with wide eyes as she stared at the apparition, her heart clambering in her chest. She knew who this was, without a doubt. She noticed the long curly head of hair on the ghost, the flower petals in her hair, her twinkling eyes. The way she looked into Marma's eyes. Wiss held her breath as she felt a sting form in her eyes, her gaze filling with tears. It was instant, as if for that one moment she wasn't in control of her own emotions. 

"I don't know what to do," Marma muttered. Piri stared down at Marma with a soft gaze, her faint hands reaching to touch Marma's cheeks, caressing them. 

"My love," the ghost whispered. Her voice, albeit audible, was terribly echoed. It was as though she was standing in an empty tunnel. "You cannot stop destiny."

Piri's ghoulish voice soothed Marma, the old woman's cheek leaning into her hand. She seemed to calm in her presence, it was breathtaking to see in person. 

"But I can delay it...can't I?"

"Marma," the ghost whispered, finally convincing the old woman to look up at her. "It is not your destiny to alter."

As Wiss stared at them, utterly stunned, Piri's twinkling eyes suddenly shot up and stared right back at her. This startled Wiss, causing her to gasp sharply...which in turn startled Marma. The old woman quickly whipped her head around to Wiss, Piri's ghost brushing away into the wind and disappearing before their very eyes. "Wiss," Amma sighed, brushing her hand across her forehead. She glanced over her shoulder, hoping Piri would still be there. The creases in her forehead returned when she realized she was gone.