Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 08:44:40 -0400 (EDT)
From: Danny <twinkchaser@excite.com>
Subject: Love Magick Part 28

Now, I have to admit, this is the part of the story when the magick gets a
bit Charmed-ish.  I thought it made things more interesting, if not more
entertaining.  Enjoy!

This is a work of fiction. It is straight out of my imagination, except for
most of the pagan practices mentioned. This is written for adults and if
you are not supposed to read this where you live, then please don't.


Part 28


We cut through a square on the way home.  The street lamps cast long
shadows and the Spanish moss waved in the cold air.  There were few people
out at this time of night and season, so we stopped to kiss.  I held Ryan
close, exploring his mouth with my tongue.  He ran his hands down my back
and grabbed my ass.

"I want that tonight," he said squeezing my cheeks.

"Ask and ye shall receive," I said and kissed him again.

"What a lovely couple," a voice said from behind me.  I stopped and turned
around pushing Ryan behind me.  The woman from the ball was standing in the
shadow of an oak tree.  I took a step back pushing Ryan back.  "I take it
you don't recognize me," she said, and pulled back her veil.

"Cecilia," I said astonished.

"Cecilia, as in old girlfriend Cecilia," Ryan asked.

"Yes, I am the old girlfriend," she said stepping into the light.  She was
still quite beautiful.  Her skin was pale and smooth like porcelain.  Her
hair was long and spiraled down onto her shoulders.

"So, um, what have you been up to," I asked, trying to sound casual and
keeping my distance.  I wasn't sure why, but she made me very nervous.

"Oh, you know, just studying, growing strong.  Growing more bitter with
every passing day I spend alone."

"Okay, well, I think you need to be getting home," I said to Ryan.  I
kissed him on the cheek and pushed a talisman into his hand.  "Run home
now," I whispered into his ear.

"But...," he started to protest.

"Please, Ryan.  I will be home directly."  I pushed him and turned to face
Cecilia.  I heard his footsteps stop, and then he finally trotted home.

"You haven't been pining over me all these years, have you darlin'," I
asked backing away from her.

"I pined for a while.  I kept my faith that you would get over your silly
phase and would come back to me.  I loved you so much, and you shattered my
heart like a beer bottle."  I thought of how odd a simile that was, and
figured she had done a lot of drinking over the years.

"All I can say is that I am sorry.  I loved you, but I couldn't love you
the way you wanted.  I would have happily stayed your friend.  You are the
one who disappeared."  I looked around, half hoping there was someone
nearby, but then hoping there wasn't, if she turned violent.

"I couldn't stand by and watch you kiss and hold someone else."  She looked
away and wiped a tear from her cheek.  "But then, after a while, the love
went away and left a hole.  I filled that hole with hate and bitterness.  I
studied and planned to take my revenge.  I thought I had gotten over it
all, but then you found love again".

She turned around to face me.  The wind picked up and the street lamp to my
right exploded, sending glass and sparks dancing across the brick sidewalk.
I jumped back covering my face with my arm.  I reached into my pockets
looking for something I could use against her.  She advanced on me causing
me to back away.  She raised her hands above her head in a sinister pose
and recited a curse with a hissing voice.


>From the depth of darkness rise Hide the sun and fill the skies Work my
spell with evil might And bring an end to him tonight Hear my secret; keep
it well Open up the gates of hell Darkness come and play your part Do my
will and stop his heart


She pushed her hands in front of her and a black vortex formed between her
palms.  I stepped back and stumbled over a loose brick in the sidewalk and
fell on my back.  The dark force flew over me, leaving a wake of foul
smelling air.  The vortex hit an oak tree behind me and a wave of shadow
engulfed it.  Dead birds dropped from the branches and brown leaves fell
like rain.  A large limb cracked and fell toward me and I roll out of the
way.  The limb struck Cecilia and knocked her to the ground.  I scrambled
to my feet and reached into my pocket.

I searched until I found a small packet of powder.  I opened it and ran at
Cecilia.  I opened the packet and tossed the powder into the air causing it
cover her where she lay on the ground.  She sat up and started brushing at
her arms and legs, trying to get the powder off.  She raised her hand and
pointed at me.  I held my breath and prayed that my powder had worked.  She
screamed and sparks flew from her hand.  I stepped back and closed my eyes.
I waited for a moment and then finally worked up the courage to look.  She
stood next to the fallen limb looking at her hand.  She looked at me and
growled.

"What have you done to me," she shrieked.

"I just stopped you from casting for a while."  I started to turn when she
jumped on my back.  I shrugged her off and she fell to the ground.  I
lifted my hand and recited:

Bring her peace to cool her hate, Calm her heart and blank the slate.
Remove the anger and give her rest, Take the worst and show her best.


She screamed as a bright flash bathed her in light and sparks danced over
her and onto the ground.  She looked up at me and started to cry.  She
jumped to her feet and stepped toward me.  I took a step back, and she
stopped where she stood.  I started to turn away when she spoke.

"I am so sorry for what I did.  You took your love from me so I took love
from you."  She fell to her knees sobbing.  I stepped toward her, and
stared down at her tangled hair..

"What are you talking about," I asked.  "Tell me," I yelled when she
wouldn't stop crying.

"I took your love...," she said crying into her hands.  I remembered the
vision I had from the tea.  I realized that the woman was Cecilia.  She had
killed my Ward.  My teeth clenched and I balled my hands into fists.  I
could hear my heart pounding in my ears.  "I was going to take your love
again..."  She collapsed into more sobbing.  I suddenly had a horrible
feeling.  What if she had set a trap to hurt Ryan.  I turned and ran
towards home.  I ran as fast as I could the few blocks left to the house.
I made it to the door and found it locked.  I raised my hand and it flew
open.  I looked at my hand in disbelief.  I hadn't known I could do that.

I ran upstairs to our room and found it empty.  I looked in his old room
and it too was empty.  I ran downstairs and into the studio.  The painting
of Ryan was gone.  I felt faint, but I struggled on.  I ran to the parlor
and saw him.  He was lying on the parlor sofa, the painting leaned against
the wall near him.  I ran to his side and knelt down beside the sofa.  I
reached out and touched his cheek.  His eyes fluttered and slowly opened.
He smiled up at me and I pulled him to me in a close hug.  I started to cry
as I held him against me.  He wrapped his arms around me and rubbed my
back.

"What is wrong, love," he asked.  I pulled back and looked in his worried
face.

"I... I thought you were dead," I stumbled.

"Do I want to know why?"  I stood up and moved to the supplies cabinet.  I
started pulling out every protection charm and spell I could find.

"Cecilia was a little angry, and when my spell wears off, she will be
furious."  I took a piece of parchment and scribbled the word `help'
several times and then lit a candle.  I burned the paper and let the ashes
blow out the window.  I closed the window, locked it, and returned to my
preparations.


(To be continued)

The next chapter will be submitted soon.

I welcome comments, twinkchaser@excite.com