Any Witch Way (9 page)

As the threesome walked together, Sadie asked once again about the Syndicate. After several attempts and much arguing about who would talk, Sadie set the rules, and they all came to an agreement about the conversation at hand.  They walked on and the two gnomes (who looked very much like they could be Sadie’s mother and father to our regular old human eyes) told her all that they knew of the Syndicate.

Elgarbam began to explain how years before in the human world’s history, around the year 1487, a book had been written called the Malleus Maleficarum.  

His story went on something like this: A loose Latin translation of Malleus Malificarum is The Hammer of the Witch or Witch’s Hammer. It is said that in 1486 it was written by two men—two human men—named Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger. Who really wrote the book and what this book’s intended use was is still up for discussion to this day. The one thing that is known for sure is that following its publication, the hounding of any witch became crueler and much more widespread. This was because, at the time, witchcraft was accepted in human society as a very real fact.

Human society also thought witches were very dangerous and, thusly, should be killed. Eventually, humans realized how ridiculous this was (the dangerous part) and that they were burning and torturing lots of innocent people. They weren’t even killing magikal beings most of the time. Mostly poor innocent women, midwives, and people who just didn’t quite fit into society’s norms were the ones accused and tortured. The book-and-witch-hunting were stopped. At least, on the surface, they stopped.

Out of all of this hoopla formed a secret society determined to keep witch hunting and destroying alive. This group believed all witches to be an abomination, and that they should be disposed of accordingly. They called themselves the Exterminator of Witches Syndicate. As time passed and they somehow found out about other magikal beings and creatures, their name changed to the Witches and Magikal Beings, Hunters, Trappers and Exterminators Syndicate. It was commonly known as just the Syndicate because the latter is such a mouthful. Though the humans who directed and lead the Syndicate hated all magikal beings, they would use them to suit their purposes.

The gnomes went on to explain that they, the Syndicate, are a very real and very dangerous threat to Sadie’s life. Their mission is to seek out and destroy all witches, as well as witchlings. They try to find all humans who are about to turn and kill them before they even become magikal. It’s still not sure to the Society of Magikal Beings how they, the Syndicate, find these witchlings. The gnomes reminded Sadie of her thirteenth birthday at the bookstore and how that turned out.

“But those were magikal beings that came after me at the bookstore,” said Sadie.

Elgarbam went on to explain that just as there are bad and evil humans there are bad and evil creatures in the world of magik as well. And some have taken to working for the Syndicate, (as he had mentioned) even though ultimately, they will be their own destroyers. The Society, which is short for The Society of Magikal Beings, is made up of good and bad magikal creatures.

The good or light creatures belong to the Chaste Commonwealth and the bad or dark creatures make up the Dark Domain. With the enticement of power and riches from the Syndicate, there were some that could turn their cold hearts even colder and kill their own kind. They were the creatures who were the darkest of the dark and could not be trusted anymore. A deal was struck between them stating that the Turncoats, as they came to be known, would be given great rewards and eventually would rule the Society once all the good witches and creatures were destroyed. As long as they stayed in the magikal world and did not return to the human world, the Syndicate would not harm them—and vice versa.  

Whistle continued, “As far as we know there is only one human in the entire human world that can see the creatures of the magikal world though he has not been fairy struck. He is the leader of the Syndicate. We have no idea how he got this power or how he uses it, except to hunt out about-to-be witchlings. He is one devious and shady human, that’s for sure.”

“That’s how they spotted you and sent some of the Turncoats to kill you, Sadie. I’m sure you’ve figured out by now, even without any training, that you’re a witchling,” said Elgarbam.

“And that on your thirteenth birthday you turn,” said Whistle.

“And that usually some important member of the Society will whisk new witchlings away before the Syndicate can, let’s just say, dispose of you,” said Elgarbam.

“But you were found out quite quickly and almost couldn’t be saved in time,” said Whistle.

“So it must have made them mad, and that’s why they’re still after you, unless, there’s some other reason we don’t yet know about,” said Elgarbam eyeing Sadie.

“But how did they know I was going to turn? Do I have some sort of Neon sign on my forehead that says hey, I’m gonna turn into a witch? Oh, this is all too much,” said Sadie putting her hand up to her head.

“It’s something like that. When a young person, such as yourself, is about to turn, they get a bright purple glow all about them, sort of like an aura. The leader of the Syndicate sends out his people to spot these soon-to-be witchlings so that they can destroy them before they even get a chance to turn,” said Elgarbam. “The scary thing is it’s like he knows before we even know. For quite some time we’ve been trying to discover how he’s able to do this, but we’ve got nothing. He’s all human. I mean, it makes no sense. And these poor witchlings? What becomes of them?”

“And before you ask, no, you don’t have a choice since you’re so worried about being normal all the time—whatever that, ‘normal,’ means,” said Whistle, a bit frustrated. “You were one of the ones born a witch.”

Sadie smiled. She hadn’t thought about fitting in or being normal or even having a family since the surprise birthday party at Tara’s. As a matter of fact, that was the first time in her life she actually felt like she fit in and was normal. The only thing abnormal was that she was the only one without full powers.

But that’s okay; apparently there are lots like me out there. I belong in the magikal world more than in the human world. When all this is said and done, I’m never going back to the human world. I’m staying where I’m not made fun of for being different.

“I have so many more questions: like what if an adult wants to become a witch or what if some kid who wasn’t born a witch wants to become one. Or wait, how ‘bout this. Do you guys, I mean, you magikal beings, ever recruit people to join? Or what if someone wants to decline who was born a witch, not that I want to decline, I’m just wondering...oh, sorry, I’m babbling. I can’t help it; there’s just so much to learn and....”

Before she could finish, a shape in the distance distracted Sadie from her line of questioning. A bit nervous at the thought of running into someone or something else, she surveyed her surroundings. The threesome was approaching a road. Sadie recognized it as one of the four roads that led to town, and on this road stood a figure about the same size as Sadie. Sadie’s strange feeling in her stomach and chest returned.

“Hey, guys, you see that person up there? I’m getting a weird feeling about this,” Sadie said to her two traveling companions.

“Whoever it is, they are about the same size as you. What harm can a human of your size do?” questioned Whistle. “I mean unless, of course, they have magikal powers,” he continued when Sadie shot him a warning look.

They resumed their approach despite Sadie’s uncomfortable feeling. The person had his back to them and was looking through a pair of binoculars at a great and vast lake on the other side of the road.

All of this seems so familiar, thought Sadie, like I’ve been here before. I know this place. Wait! IT’S MY DREAM!

“Guys, when I was knocked out from that sleeping tea, back at the bookstore, I had a dream and this place looks….”

Before the words had completely left her mouth, two giant vulture-men swooped down from out of the trees and grabbed a hold of Whistle and Elgarbam. The person standing in the road turned to face Sadie.

“David?” she questioned.

It can’t be.

David, the boy she had met on Main Street, held a black velvet bag in one hand and with his other, threw some sort of dust at Sadie. He turned around just as quickly as he threw the powder and buried his head in his free arm. Through blurry vision she watched David’s strange actions, and she watched the gnomes being carried off into the distance. This dust caused her to sneeze and then fall over—not asleep, but paralyzed—watching everything that was happening to her.

As she lay helpless, seeing David walking towards her, Sadie felt confused and angry. Only a few days ago she had met this boy, who seemed shy and reluctant, and now he was somehow involved in what’s going on in her life.

What does all this mean? What could he possibly want with me? And…he’s obviously magikal…and why can’t I move?

Sadie’s anger began to build; as it did, the trees in the forest to the left began to sway and shift about. Whatever leaves that were left on them came loose and began to swirl around Sadie and David on the isolated dirt road. Ripples first, then white caps appeared on the lake. From the swamp, the reeds rustled and bent in unison with the rest of nature. If she had been able to speak, she would have demanded to know what was going on. The anger in her eyes flashed that knowledge.

David raised one of his arms, snapped his fingers, and with a crackle and sparks of light, there appeared two large vulture-men. With a whoosh of leathery bat-like wings, they settled on the dirt road where Sadie lay and David stood. Sadie’s anger faded as fear replaced it, and the weather seemed to worsen. The first bits of winter snow began to fall and a northerly wind began to blow.

“Let’s take her to the Syndicate,” said David, puffing out his chest. “I’m going to be a hero.”

A strong wind almost knocked him over, and one of the man-vultures shielded him with its wings.  

“We have to go now. The weather’s getting worse, and I’ll bet this little abomination has something to do with it.”  

His eyes had narrowed to slits, and he practically spat as he directed the word “abomination” at her.  

How can he be calling me an abomination when he’s using magik himself?

As the man-vulture’s scaly talons grabbed Sadie, its almost featherless body brushed against her, making her cringe. The smell coming off the creature was enough to upset anyone’s stomach, and the oily long hair that was attached to its scalp in clumps had bits of bloody, raw flesh stuck in it.

Sadie thought she heard the sound of bells twinkling on the wind as the creature over her raised its wings. There were little holes in places and its wings looked quite tattered. Sadie wondered how it could fly let alone carry her as well. She heard the twinkling again.

In a massive rush not unlike that of a swarm of killer bees, David and the two man-vultures were besieged by the largest multitude of fairies Sadie had seen to date. She had no idea they could amass like that and was quite amazed at the large numbers. They appeared as one heaving, unified object. Sadie had only seen maybe ten fairies together at once. Orange, yellow, brown, and red flashed before her eyes as the fairies began to torment the three foes.

These must be fall woodland fairies. Maybe the Green Woman sent them.

David began swatting the air, and the man-vulture next to him flapped its wings in vain. The creature above her tightened its grip and fought to take off. The fairy swarm was relentless, but in the end they were no match for whatever was in David’s bag.

Sadie watched helplessly as David snapped his fingers and gas masks of some sort appeared over his and the man-vultures’ faces. He began sprinkling his powder through the fairy swarm. Their fast flying swirled the powder amongst them quickly. Little by little the fairies began to drop, the same way bees do when sprayed with poison. As the man-vultures carried Sadie and David away, she looked down at the amassing pile of fairies on the ground; they looked like someone had raked the fall leaves into a pile. Sadie stared at the horrid mound; it was getting larger even though she was being carried higher and higher into the sky.  

Just before everything became ant-like from her sky-high position, Sadie saw Zeno running full speed down the road towards the spot where they had just been. He looked angry, fierce, and had his bow drawn.

If he shoots, I’ll fall from the sky and probably break every bone in my body.

As if Centaurs could also read minds, Zeno lowered his bow. Sadie felt a pang of pity for him; he looked utterly in despair discovering he was too late to assist her. He stomped the ground with his hooves, pranced in a tight circle, and shook his fists and bow at the sky. The last thing Sadie could make out was Zeno’s shouting something at her. Then he reared up and took off at break-neck speed.  

*  *  *

When they began to alight, Sadie noticed they were back in her hometown of Cranberry Grove, above the old abandoned whiskey storage warehouse at the edge of town. It looked the same except there were many vultures covering the roof and clinging to the sides here and there. She wondered why no one on the street saw these horrid things and then remembered the glamour.

It was no use to try and get anyone’s attention; they couldn’t see her or they saw her as something else. She also wondered how the glamour worked, how it covered them, and what they looked like to the people below. Otherwise, some people may just get excited at the sight of man-vultures carrying two human beings through the sky.

And why don’t the magikal beings down there see us? I can see them. That’s another question I’ll ask whenever we get where we’re going, and I don’t care who laughs at me.

Sadie had amassed quite a collection of questions during her flight. She also felt what she had begun to call the paralyzing potion was wearing off. She didn’t dare let on, though. Who knew what David would do to her? She was still having a hard time believing this shy boy she had met a few days ago was a malicious magikal creature.

Decreasing in altitude, Sadie noticed uniformed guards posted every nine or ten feet along Main Street.

What on earth?

The closer they got, the more Sadie realized something strange was happening. These guards, or soldiers, were dressed in dark purple uniforms with silver ornamentation. Every time a human pulled up in a car, they gave the soldier something before walking away. Every time a magikal being approached them, they seemed to have a simple conversation. Some even looked as though they were giving directions. Then it hit her.

The Parking Meters! They stand like silent sentinels all along Main Street! But why? What exactly is their purpose?

This was yet another question for Sadie to add to her list of many.

They flew into the warehouse through a very large window. Sadie prayed the jagged, broken glass would not slice her as they went through. Finally, she was dropped on the dirty, grimy floor and lay there perfectly still as the man-vulture perched on some discarded crates nearby.

“I’ve brought you the witchling that has caused everyone so much trouble,” David said to someone Sadie couldn’t see, for her head was facing the opposite direction. “She’s still alive so that should count for something. I want my reward, and I want what you promised me. Oh, and here’s the rest of that nasty paralyzing potion. By the way, don’t you think it’s a bit hypocritical to use magik when you’re trying to kill all magik and magikal beings? I’ve been meaning to ask you that for some time now.”

If Sadie had not been more careful, the snort and humph she suppressed at David’s own hypocrisy would have given her away. She did, however, let a little bit of her anger get the better of her, and a small pop of magik burst above her head.

Whatever or whomever David was talking to moved closer until they were standing just behind Sadie. She felt a knot form in her stomach and her chest began to tighten; simultaneously, she felt calm. A feeling she wasn’t quite sure of rippled through her body, causing her to tremble. It was too much to hope they hadn’t seen the little burst of magik. But she really didn’t want them to see her body trembling, for surely then they would know the potion was wearing off.  The being began to walk around Sadie until it stood in front of her face. She recognized it to be a man from his feet, but she didn’t dare look up at him.

It’s probably David’s father.

Inside, she sighed with relief; it wasn’t another creature. Outside, she just lay there.

“Do not question my methods, boy. I will fight fire with fire if need be. I have my reasons for doing what I’m doing and how I’m doing it. You didn’t seem to have a problem using magik yourself to contain this monstrosity. And…better safe than sorry. Look at the trouble she’s caused so far.” Sadie heard the man say. “By the way, how did that new magik I gave you work? I’m assuming well since none of the beings in town saw you fly in.”

“Yes, sir, it worked very well. Thank you. It feels good to be superior.”

She felt something being sprinkled on her person.  

“Let’s take her and chain her up until I figure out how to get what I need from her. We don’t know what this one can do yet either.”  

He poked his toe into Sadie’s ribs.

Sadie sneezed and then felt herself completely unable to move again. Even her eyes were fixed in front of her, and she felt her eyelids slowly closing. The tight feeling in her chest began to subside, and her stomach wasn’t quite as nauseous. She felt arms or what she thought were arms lifting her, carrying her for several moments until they dropped her quite hard onto the floor, but it didn’t hurt. Maniacal laughter could be heard as more dust was blown into her face. Within moments, Sadie was not only paralyzed, but also fast asleep.

*  *  *

Blinking her eyes to clear the bleariness, Sadie woke slowly, very groggy and slightly befuddled.  

Where am I and why do I always seem to be dazed, sleepy or actually falling asleep?

When her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, she took note of her environment. It was gloomy and smelled of damp neglect. There was a chill in the air, and the sound of dripping water echoed in the dark. Then in a rush of mental pictures, the memories of what happened came charging back like a movie being fast forwarded.

David is a bad guy. I’ll bet his dad runs the Syndicate; I got one of my feelings when I met them. I knew it! I need to find out what’s going on. I need to tell someone. Oh, my head hurts, must be from all that powder of whatever they gave me. I have to be smart and careful about what I do now. I’m at their mercy.

She moved slowly and ever so slightly to rub her head and found chains on her wrists in the process. Following the links back to their origin, she found that she was chained to a stone wall. It seemed to be a thick stone wall that went up forever and was damp and cold to the touch. A trickle of water ran down it on her right to pool in the center of the room.

She heard the scurrying and scampering of creatures unknown in the shadows around her and trembled a bit. For the first time since her life had been thrown into this turmoil, Sadie fought back tears of defeat. She tried to sit up and realized that whoever had chained her forgot to take off her backpack.

I can use some of the magikal objects to get away.

She shrugged her shoulders and let the backpack fall a little off her back. The chains were making it difficult though she was trying so hard to be quiet. She didn’t know who or what was out there guarding her, and she didn’t want to draw attention to herself and find out. Hard as she tried though, being chained was not conducive to taking off her backpack, much less getting into it.

I will not give up. They say I’m a witch so what would a witch do?

Into her mind popped Zeno and what he said the night of her birthday. Use your magik! Remember the books flying off the shelves!

She remembered what had happened in the bookstore. She remembered fighting the first man-vulture from on top of Zeno’s back; when she had become frustrated, it seemed as if her feelings materialized into action. Sadie began to concentrate all her emotions and feelings into the pit of her stomach. She controlled her breathing and focused all her energy on how angry she was at being kidnapped by David, at the gnomes being taken, and at those disgusting man-vultures.

She tried to focus the emotions and energy on the chains that were binding her. If there were one thing she had figured out without any help either, it was that all magik came from energy. Sparkles of white light began to crackle and pop in the air around her, but they fizzed out very quickly and nothing happened. No change. She tried again, harder this time, so hard that her head began to hurt again and her stomach went into knots. The same thing happened—little pops and crackles of white light, but no change.

“I guess it’s ‘cause I’m just a witchling and not a full witch,” she said aloud though no one was there to listen. Or so she thought.

“It’s because those chains are made of iron, and iron disrupts any form of magik and can bind magikal creatures for eternity,” came a voice from the darkness. “Even a full witch, or a massive troll for that matter, couldn’t break those chains. But I must say, that was quite a display for being bound with so much iron. You must be one powerful little witch in the making.”  

Sadie thought for a moment before she spoke. Much had happened to her in the last few days, and she wanted no more trouble than she thought she could handle.

See, if only I were a normal kid, none of this would be occurring.  

“Where are Elgarbam and Whistle?” she asked the disembodied voice.

Laughter could be heard echoing in the dank musty room. It was such maniacal laughter that it chilled Sadie to her very bones. When it eventually stopped, all that was left was the sound of the trickle of water running down the walls of her dungeon, along with her breathing.

“You’re chained up in a dungeon quite possibly about to die, and all you can think about are two worthless little gnomes? You are a strange child, Sadie MacDougall; no wonder you’ve had such a hard time in the human world. ”

A smug humph could be heard in the blackness.

A huge flash of white and gold light cracked in the air above Sadie’s head, illuminating the darkness around her. In the split second it hovered before burning out, Sadie saw the figure of a man with his arms crossed over his chest further away in the room.

“What? Did that make you mad? Oh…I get it now. You don’t want to be strange or different do you, Sadie? It hurts you that so many foster homes have traded you in for normal kids. It hurts you how much you’ve been teased and taunted by the children at school.”