"B... but surely she's a real danger to everyone at home? When Jo was first turned, she had to be restrained..." said Lilly, jumping up and heading back towards the phone.
Moira stopped her before she could get any further, "Honey, there's nothing to worry about. Jemima is incredibly weak. She couldn't hurt a mouse. That awful craving that usually happens has been dampened down to such an extent because of what she's been through. There's really no danger at all. Please don't worry, honey. Your family and friends are perfectly safe and besides... Carmelo is there and so is Zoltan. They are very strong," she smiled.
"Oh... okay.... Sorry, I guess I panicked a bit. I just worry about them, you know?"
"Of course you do. We understand. Plus, this is the first time you've been away from them all since you moved to Canada. It's only natural. You can call them later on if you need to but let them get some rest for now, okay?"
Lilly nodded and walked back into the kitchen where she sat herself up to the counter next to December. They watched Moira finish making another hot chocolate before handing each a cup. December mumbled her thanks, followed by a wide yawn.
Like a domino effect, Lilly yawned too, causing Moira to open her mouth for more oxygen. The three of them giggled as Ruby over exaggerated her effort to yawn, making a long loud yawning sound in the process.
"It's been so long since I needed to do that... oh how I miss it," she said with a wink.
Later that morning, after they'd returned to bed for a couple of hours, the girls had woken up to the smells of a cooked breakfast being prepared in the kitchen. After they'd showered and dressed, they'd rushed downstairs, with tummies rumbling loudly, to find Monty in the kitchen waiting for them.
"Morning girls! I trust you had a good night's sleep?" he asked as he began to serve the delicious eggs and bacon with toast and tea.
"Mmmm, this smells gorgeous Monty, thank you!" said Lilly tucking into it as December opened one of the cupboards, taking out a bottle of Brown Sauce and proceeded to pour loads of it onto the side of her plate, followed by curry flavoured Ketchup.
"Urgh, December... you have such weird tastes. That looks horrible. Curry flavoured ketchup for breakfast? With Brown Sauce? You're just too weird for words," she laughed as she shook her head.
"Our December has always had eclectic tastes in food. Even when she was a toddler, she used to love Yorkshire pudding with jam and ice cream. Mind you, her Aunt Penelope never allowed it. We used to sneak it to her after she'd gone out."
"Eww, December!" laughed Lilly as December pretended to ignore them.
"Where's Mom?" she asked eventually, after the giggling had stopped.
"She had to pop out to buy a few things for the spell. She said she wouldn't be gone too long. Oh, and Lilly, she said for you to feel free to use the phone if you want to call your family."
Lilly nodded in thanks while she took the last few gulps of her tea before hopping off the stool, placing her dirty dishes into the dish washer before she headed into the hallway where she picked up the phone and promptly dialled home.
All was fine, of course. Lilly had just missed Carmelo, Jo and Jemima who, according to Sammy, was totally out of it.
"It was almost like she was on medication or something. She is in serious shock and she hasn't come to terms with everything that has happened yet, but I guess that's to be expected. It's so sad. Tiffani and I are going to go up and spend some time with her when you guys come home. Maybe you could come too. I think she's going need the support from people she knows."
"That's a good idea, Sammy. We'll definitely come up with you. Poor Jemima. Is she feeding okay?"
"She's actually quite disgusted at having to drink blood but she can feel she needs it so yeah, I suppose she is. She's going to need some serious looking after though, Lilly."
"She needs to be with the Elders right now. It's the best place for her. Jo will make sure she's okay too. I'm just so glad she survived... well, in a manner of speaking."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
The sound of a car door slam made Lilly jump.
"Oh, that must be Moira. I'd better go. Give Tiffani my love and we'll see you next week, okay?"
"Okay, Lilly. Have a great weekend. Take care. Bye."
"Bye."
Just as Lilly replaced the receiver, the front door opened to reveal Moira dressed from head to toe in emerald green.
"Wow, you look amazing in that colour, Moira."
"Thanks, honey. You're so sweet. Did you manage to talk to Jo?"
"No, I just missed them but Sammy's assured me everyone's okay though."
"Well, that's all that matters," she replied, closing the front door behind her, "if you and December have finished your breakfast, we ought to go downstairs and get started."
Lilly nodded and called for her best friend who had been chatting to her dead grandmother. They both walked into the hallway as they heard Moira's voice. Well, December walked into the hallway. Ruby floated.
"Hi my darling," said Ruby, "did you get everything you need for the spell?"
Moira smiled and nodded, "yes, I can always rely on Melina for times like these. That woman's store is amazing. I could spend hours just browsing all her stuff. I love going there."
"Yes, I remember Melina when she was a little girl in that store. She used to spend every waking hour with her mother and grandmother in there learning all about the craft. How is she?"
"She's okay, she still has bad days but that's to be expected. It's only been nine months."
"What happened nine months ago, Mom?" asked December as they walked down the stairs into the basement while Moira flicked on the light to reveal a simple room painted entirely in purple.
"It was so sad, such a tragedy," whispered Ruby as Moira turned to the girls, "Melina's mother and grandmother died in a fire," she said.
"Were they.... were they.... w....witches?" December whispered.
"Oh my," said Ruby, swooping down to her grand-daughter's side, "They most certainly were witches. Very good ones at that... but stop that thinking right now, my dear. It was an accident. They died in an accident. They were most certainly not burnt because they were witches, if that's what you were thinking. That sort of thing doesn't happen any-more. It's been centuries since the last witch was burnt at the stake."
"That's true," added Moira. "It was just a terrible tragedy and I'll b.... oh, honey, are you okay?" she asked after noticing December had slipped down the final step onto her bottom and was clutching her head.
Holding her head tightly, December let out a slow moan as Lilly and Moira helped her up from the floor and carefully walked her over to the only place she could sit: a small single bed.
"I... I think I'm all right, thanks. It just suddenly came with such force that time. They're not usually that intense so quickly," she said, continuing to rub her forehead.
"Honey, would you do me a favour and run upstairs and bring us a damp kitchen towel?" asked Moira as Lilly nodded and hopped up the steps two at a time.
Moira opened the purple ornate wooden wardrobe at the side of the bed and pulled out a small box. Inside were a number of perfectly placed stones of different colours and sizes. Moira picked up a pretty green stone and handed it to her daughter.
"I want you to hold onto this for a while. Green is the colour of healing. It should help your headaches during the spell, and hopefully afterwards too."
December inspected the smooth stone under the dim light. "What is it?"
"It's quartz, my darling," answered her grandmother. "These stones have been in the family for many years so they should be very strong and powerful by now. But stop thinking too hard. Just hold it in your hand and relax. Here's Lilly with the wet cloth... it will work wonders, I'm sure," she winked.
After a few minutes of lying down with the wet towel on her forehead, December's colour began to return to her face. Trying to get up, Ruby hovered to her side. "Not so fast, my darling. Stay lying down for now. We're not
going anywhere so you just stay there and get some rest."
December did exactly as she was told as Lilly sat beside her with a glass of water.
"Here, have a sip of this," she said, handing it to her best friend.
The girls then sat back and watched as Moira prepared the spell to find out what these headaches were all about.
"Do you have any idea what she's doing?" whispered Lilly.
Shaking her head slowly, December responded, "Nope."
"Have you been down here before?"
"Once, when I first arrived. Mom brought me down here to be welcomed home... by all my ancestors."
"Huh?"
Stifling a laugh, December winced. "I've no idea how but the voices of my ancestors came out of nowhere to welcome me home. It was amazing."
"So you didn't see them?"
"No. It was just their voices. Apparently Mom can summon them whenever she really needs them but that time they just wanted to say hello, I guess."
"So she's going to summon them to help us?"
"I guess so. She hasn't really told me what she's doing yet. I know about as much as you do."
The girls were quiet as they watched Moira light the white candles that surrounded the large ornate book which sat in the middle of a simple tall white table in the centre of the room. She then lit a number of carefully placed incense sticks around the basement. The light switch was flicked off and they sat in the dark candlelit room and listened to Moira and Ruby as they whispered the words of the spell that would summon the help of their ancestors.
"In this sacred space and time
We call now the Old Ones from our family
Those long passed and always cherished
We call upon you to show yourselves before us."
"Why doesn't it rhyme? I thought spells always had to rhyme?" whispered Lilly.
"Shhh, my dear girls. We need silence for the spell to work," shushed Ruby, but before they continued their chanting, she added, "You've been reading far too many fairy tales. Spells have very rarely had to rhyme. That's just for the enjoyment of children," she winked.
The two women continued their chanting as Lilly and December remained quiet, watching and listening as the atmosphere became calm and inviting and the scents of the incense wafted throughout their eerily calm surroundings, waiting for something to happen.
"In this sacred space and time
We call now the Old Ones from our family
Those long passed and always cherished
We call upon you to show yourselves before us."
A few minutes later, the sounds of whispering could be heard. It was a sound December recognised instantly and she smiled and squeezed Lilly's hand while her other hand continued to grasp hold of the green quartz.
The whispered sounds became louder until they were more easily recognisable.
"Ruby, Moira, December.... and another not of our family... Lillian... welcome.
It is rare we are summoned in the presence of another, yet we can feel you are equal to one of our family. It is our pleasure to meet you.
Our names are Constance, Fidelia, Genevieve, Theodosia, Millicent, Ethel, Perpetua, Valeria, Evelyn..."
"My dear ancestors, we cast the spell for you to show yourselves. Would you mind?" said Ruby matter of factly.
A woman with a mass of red curls appeared out of nowhere. She wore a simple loosely fitting brown tunic which was clearly from a long gone era.
"Ruby, I know I am the one you seek. The others are not needed on this day."
"Millicent?" asked December who now stood directly in front of the strange woman.
"Aye, December, I am Millicent. I believe we have a strong bond."
Both Ruby and Moira stood speechless, while Lilly continued to sit on the bed, eager to learn more.
"Yes, I believe we do too!" she squealed. "But we thought perhaps I was you, reincarnated."
Millicent chuckled. "Why, my dying words perhaps reflected that, but no. We are alike you and I. We share the very same gifts. One of which is why you have summoned me here today, I believe."
December nodded while her mother stepped forward.
"Hello Millicent. Thank you so much for coming when we called. I had hoped you would be the one to help us but I wasn't entirely sure, which is why I summoned you all."
"My dear Moira. I am always most happy to help you, and any of our kind, for that matter. How wonderful it must be to live in this place and time when we are not burnt at the stake or drowned in the river."
All the girls nodded in agreement as they watched the petite spirit hover a few inches from the ground.
"I do believe that book over there has one more spell that could be of great use to us in this endeavour to find your Lost Soul," she said pointing to the spell book that sat amidst the slow burning candles. As she spoke, the pages flipped over, finally stopping as Millicent let out a sigh.
"How do you know about the Lost Soul?" asked Lilly, nervously.
"With such a strong connection to December, I know of every event with which she has been involved lately, Lilly. Might I add I am so pleased you girls found each other. I would have given almost anything to have such a friend when I was alive. But that was not meant to be."
"Oh I see... the spell which gives a spirit her body back, albeit temporarily," said Ruby, reading over her daughter's shoulder.
"Will this work?" asked Moira, "I thought it only worked on spirits that had recently passed away."
Millicent nodded, "You are correct, Moira. It has only ever worked on the newly dead but I have nothing to lose... plus, with such strong witches among us today, what's the worst that could happen. I could die?" she said with a girlie giggle.
A long laugh erupted from Ruby's mouth, "Millicent, I just knew we would get along."
After it was decided they would carry out the spell to bring Millicent back from the dead, Ruby stayed with the spirit of her ancestor in the purple basement while Monty drove Moira, December and Lilly to Melina's store in town.
"Wow. It's like nothing I've ever seen before. It's beautiful."
"It certainly is, honey. I could quite easily spend hours and hours in here."
Lilly listened to mother and daughter as all three walked in to the witch's equivalent of Aladdin's Cave. Instantly welcoming, the shop's store front contained hundreds of crystals which glistened as the sunlight hit the window, making tiny rainbows that shot in all directions, reminding Lilly of Oliver. The little crystal angels he had given her on her first birthday in Canada still hung in her bedroom giving the very same effect. Several large wooden bookshelves were laden with books of all sizes, new and old, while behind the main counter sat countless glass jars filled with all manner of herbs, spices and other cornucopia. Shelves filled with crystal balls, large and small, surrounded the shops interior. The smell of burning incense took Lilly right back to the purple basement, making her feel warm and comfortable and at ease.
The shop also contained ornaments of all sizes, featuring dragons, witches, warlocks and more. There were cauldrons; some very small, some huge and heavy. Another section of the store was dedicated entirely to jewellery; Celtic style pagan rings, necklaces and bracelets as well as charms and tiaras which led to another room that was filled with clothes... cloaks, scarves, skirts, tops, dresses all in beautiful shades of purples, greens, oranges, blacks, etc.
Lilly wandered in and out of the different sections of the store, eyeing up the stacks of CDs containing Celtic music to meditation sounds and music for relaxation. There were headphones where you could sample the different sounds. Lilly put them on and listened for a few moments to the sounds of dolphins and whales in the wild. She clicked the button to change the CD to hear the sounds of gentle running water and the rainforest. It almost gave her the urge to go to the toilet. With a smile, she clicked the button a second time and almost jumped as the sound of a woman's voice began to tell her to 'relax, breathe, let the negative energy exhale from your bones with a
long sigh....'
Lilly took off the headphones and looked around for December. Her attention was interrupted by the sight of a woman who looked remarkably like the singer from Fleetwood Mac. What was her name? She jumped as someone put a hand on her shoulder, "Have you seen her? She looks exactly like Stevie Nicks," said December's voice in her ear.
"I was just thinking the same thing... even her clothes are identical."
Lilly was only familiar with the band since December had arrived from England. Moira was such a big fan that she had all their albums and listened to them frequently.
Suddenly the woman turned to the girls and grinned. Even though she hadn't been in hearing distance, the woman nodded. "Thanks girls... I get that a lot," she said with a wink before turning her attention back to the book she was so interested in.
Both girls blushed crimson and turned to walk in the opposite direction where they were faced by a huge owl, making them jump.
"Don't worry girls. It's actually stuffed. It's kinda sad, I know, but he belonged to my grandmother and she was so sad after he died that she decided to have him preserved. Oh hi, by the way. I'm Melina! You must be December... and you must be Lilly?" the pretty young woman with the cropped blonde hair asked.
Wendy's Wonders had been there for years, having been opened by Melina's grandmother in the 60s. Her daughter, Shannon, had joined Wendy to work in the shop as soon as she was old enough and she had loved it. She never missed a day, not even when she was heavily pregnant with Melina twenty years ago.
"Hi, yes, how did you know?" asked December, before realising she knew the answer already as Melina laughed and pointed to her hair.
"You are most definitely your mother's daughter. And she's told me a little about you and your best friend. Welcome to Wendy's Wonders."
The girls laughed.
"Thanks. It's an awesome shop. I've never seen anything like it. I could spend hours in here."
"Most people say that. Thank you. My Mom and grandmother were very proud of it. And so am I," she said.
"We're very sorry about your family, Melina."