The Witches of Merribay (The Seaforth Chronicles) Read online

  A dead puffer fish blown up to its full capacity hung in a corner, or at least I assumed he was dead.

  There was movement on the floor. Crabs?

  “How were these things alive?” I began talking out loud to myself. It was something I was fond of doing when I was alone and became extremely nervous.

  Quickly I walked to the altar; it had to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

  I quickly sorted through some things: vials of liquids and a huge book, each page filled with gibberish.

  “Oh my, I wonder if Izadora knows about this book?” I said to no one.

  And as I spoke, the pages turned to English.

  I read a few lines about some spell that would glamorize a man. The ingredients all had to do with the ocean: sea cucumbers, squid legs, porcupine fish. This was no ordinary book for an ordinary witch that you'd find at a bookstore. This was the book of a master witch, who I had no doubt could literally turn me into a frog.

  I slammed the book shut, causing a noise like a grunt to escape from its pages.

  “Oh God,” I said.

  I had to get out of there soon. I searched through things such as animal hair, bones, and teeth. I searched through things that I don't even want to describe, until I came to one solitary box that was totally out of place compared to the altar. It was a simple wooden box that looked to be two hundred years old.

  No lock. I opened it to find one picture. A picture of four children sitting on a little hill under a single tree, with rolling fields spread out as far as the eye could see. It had to be taken somewhere such as Ireland or Scotland. None of the children had smiles; in fact, they frowned. I had to wonder what their problem was. The clothing was simple. The girls wore dresses, and the boys breeches with plain shirts.

  If this were a childhood picture—although I couldn't imagine Magella as a child—then the other girl must be Izadora. And one of the boys was Izaill. But who was the fourth child? I shivered to think who this could be, knowing what I knew about the other three. Maybe he was dead?

  I lay the picture back into the box, and as I moved forward to set it back down, a floorboard creaked. I looked around to see nothing, averting my eyes away from the creatures on the walls. I stepped again, and the floorboard creaked. There was something below the floorboard.

  I grabbed a gold knife from the altar; it looked more like a thick letter opener. Placing the edge between the floorboards, I pried the board loose.

  I breathed deeply, trying not to pass out. There in front of me, wrapped around what I believed to be the rolling pin, was a black snake. It had to be the rolling pin, although it looked different than I thought it would. It was a really old version of a rolling pin, a solid piece of wood, about a foot long, and the handles were carved out of the same piece of wood.

  I whimpered aloud.

  Being scared of snakes, I froze. How would I get the rolling pin from this snake? I had to think of a way. If I picked him up, what would he do? I didn't even know if he was the poisonous kind, and right then I decided that I would return to Izadora empty-handed. I moved to lay the floorboard down.

  And then I stopped and pulled the floorboard back up. I would not leave without the rolling pin. He couldn't be more than two feet long, and he looked as though he were dead anyway.

  I held my breath, reached down, and grabbed the snake by the back of the head and pulled. He surely was not dead. His eyes opened, and his tongue flailed out of his mouth, hissing. He wriggled his body with such force that I threw him to the other side of the room. As I tried to back out of the room, I heard a pop, pop, pop. He raised himself up, growing five to six feet, and his head grew three times the size as it had been before. Fangs popped out his mouth, and his eyes blazed orange-red. No ordinary snake, he was about to kill me.

  My screams echoed loudly off from the walls.

  I turned to run but he was so fast, his body coiled around the full length of my body, including my neck, and he began to squeeze the life from me.

  Thoughts of my failure filled my mind. What would happen to Father now? I would never see him again. I should have been more prepared for something like this to happen. So much for Izadora's blood potion.

  But there came a point when the snake could squeeze no more, and I could barely breathe. In all rights, I should be dead by now. But something inside me wouldn't let the snake squeeze any tighter. Or he had planned a slow death.

  We lay there for some time on the floor. I could see the crabs scurrying around, maybe ten or so. My eyes began to feel heavy, and I thought I might be dying after all. Just as I closed my eyes, I heard, “Caesar. Release the girl.” My eyes popped back open. I hadn't heard anyone enter the boat.

  The snake uncoiled itself from my body, went to the corner of the room, and rolled up into a ball.

  I breathed in full mouthfuls of air. Breathing never felt so good.

  I focused my eyes to see the old woman, Magella. A frown spanned her face. Her eyes squinted and she said, “Well, look who decided to grace us with a visit. No doubt my sister sent you. For the rolling pin, of course.” And she motioned toward the opened floorboard. She leaned down and picked up the rolling pin.

  “Come,” she said.

  Standing, my legs felt shaky, but I managed to make it to a chair she pointed to in the dining area. She then proceeded to tie my hands to the chair. Feeling too weak to fight her, and knowing that I couldn't beat her, I let her do it.

  “What does she want with the rolling pin? Did she tell you?” asked Magella.

  “She said the rolling pin is hers and she needs it.”

  “Ah, of course she did.” She paced the floor back and forth and then stood in front of me. “The rolling pin is mine.”

  “But it is hers, she said so.” My hands tingled from the ropes being too tight. “And you possess it unrightfully.”

  The old woman cackled and said, “She must need it to break the spell. And guess what, my little friend? She cannot have it.”

  “What spell?” I asked.

  “A spell my dear brother, Izaill, has cast upon her. He indeed is a genius. He has always been her equal, but this time, he has outdone her. She'll never be freed!” She laughed loudly then.

  Drumm and Izadora were going to have to be more vocal with their information. I should have already known this. Izaill was behind a curse that he had cast upon Izadora, and that's why she needed this rolling pin. It was somehow magical.

  Before she could answer, the front door flew open. In walked a person that I had not expected to see. “Zinnia?”

  “You're back, then. Good girl. Look who we have here…,” said Magella.

  My sister seemed to squirm, and her face turned the color of Gran's prize red roses. She stepped forward and leaned on the kitchen counter.

  “I'm sorry, Ivy. You should have stayed away from here.”

  “Why?” said Magella. “We can mark her, too.” She turned and went into the parlor and through the shell curtain.

  Zinnia rubbed the inside of her lower right arm; I noticed then a mark the size of an apple. It was an upside-down triangle. “The element symbol for water,” Zinnia said.

  “For water?” I said.

  Magella returned, holding a needle in one hand and ink in the other.

  I tried to move but my hands were tied too tight. I kicked her in the shin instead, making her grit her teeth and snarl. Spit flew out of her mouth.

  “Be still,” she commanded. And I could move my legs no more.

  She held the needle above my arm and let go, causing it to hang midair. Then she dumped the ink out of the bottle, and it floated as if it were a soap bubble.

  “Ink so black, work your magic, for tonight, power is mine.” The needled dipped itself into the ink, swirled around, and positioned itself over my right arm. Although it tried like heck, it could not pierce my skin; it was like trying to write on metal. A slight glow emanated from my skin, and the needle bent.

  “No!” she yelled. “She has
already claimed you.” She paced back and forth. “You have drank her blood.”

  I nodded my head, and I did so proudly. Hey, if Izadora's blood spared me from an unwanted tattooing, who was I to complain?

  My sister looked relieved. “Let's just let her go. There is no harm in it. She won't have the rolling pin. Can't we just let her go?”

  “No. Make the tea. I will cleanse her of the blood. But she must be willing to do so, or it shall not work,” Magella said.

  Zinnia walked about the kitchen, disappearing once through the seashell curtains and back out. She put water on the stove to boil. Magella paced and I thought it was time they answered some questions.

  “Zinnia,” I said, “Why are you here? What are you doing with this old hag?” I may be tied up and my legs frozen in place, but I felt like being cocky.

  “Hag? You call me a hag?” Magella asked. “Izadora is the old hag. She has never played fair.” She walked to the stove and nudged Zinnia out of the way.

  “We don't have time to waste. She needs to drink this right away,” Magella said, and she blew into the pot of water. After about fifteen seconds, it began to boil. She added some type of dark leaf to the pot.

  “Izadora could have had that water boiling in an instant. She wouldn't take that long at all.” I couldn't stop myself; I wanted to get a rise out of her. Even if it meant she would harm me.

  “Shut your little tramp mouth. Or I'll feed you to the sharks.” The muscles in her face flexed as she ground her teeth together. “My sister may have more power during the day, but she does not have any…at night.” She snorted a laugh.

  Zinnia stood staring at me. Her face was filled with sorrow and concern. “I never meant for any of this to happen, Ivy. Things just took a turn and got out of hand. I—”

  “You put something in my mint tea that caused me to pass out!” I emphasized that point as well as I could.

  “I had to…I had to leave. And you were wide awake from all the sugar you'd had.” She sighed.

  “Where have you been going? Ian says you've been traipsing the woods. He told me you couldn't be trusted. I should have listened to him. And yet you called him Mr. Holier Than Thou.” I wriggled in my chair, causing the ropes to tighten.

  “Stop talking,” Magella said. “Get me the strainer and a cup.”

  Zinnia did so.

  “Zinnia, it is probably not too late, whatever you have done. Maybe Izadora can help you,” I suggested.

  That comment seemed to push Magella over the edge. It was like waving a dried-up stick at fire, and I was the stick.

  “You are the one who will change sides…right now!” Her face had grown angry, and her lips pursed as she brought the cup to me. “Drink this.”

  Of course, I refused.

  She put it up to my lips, and the steam from the cup burned them. Trying to buy some time, I said, “It's too hot.”

  “Get an ice cube, girl,” she said to my sister.

  Apparently she moved too slowly, and Magella again nudged her out of the way and took out a small block of ice from the freezer and hit it with an ice pick.

  “Put this in the cup,” she commanded my sister. She left the ice on the counter to melt.

  My sister’s fingers trembled as she put the tiny piece of ice in the cup.

  “This is pointless, I won't drink it,” I said.

  Outside, the storm had calmed, and I couldn't hear any wind. The silence must have overwhelmed Magella. She paced back and forth in front of me. “It is almost dawn. The storm I cast has come to an end. She must drink the tea before dawn.” Her face had paled, and she no longer looked angry; she looked concerned.

  “I won't,” I said stubbornly.

  She sighed. She began to speak and then stopped. She paced back and forth a couple more times and then stood in front of me.

  “Look, Ivy, listen to me carefully.” She spoke calmly, almost softly. “Izadora has too much power. If you give her the rolling pin, you may be begging me for help.”

  “But I won't even be leaving here with the rolling pin.” I doubted I'd ever get it out of here alive.

  “Once she sent you for the rolling pin, she claimed it. Now it knows she calls for it. You have woken it up. And it will return to her.”

  “What are you talking about, Magella? It's a stupid rolling pin, it doesn't have a consciousness,” I said.

  “Ha! You are not very bright, child. It knows. It's made from a branch of my mother’s personal old rowan. She always liked Izadora best. And it knows.” She sighed. “Now you've got to drink this tea, and you have got to rebuke Izadora,” Magella said.

  I almost believed Magella for a moment. She sounded so convincing that I could almost cave. But I stood my ground and looked to my sister for help.

  Zinnia stood wide eyed, her arms crossed and sweat beading above her brow. When we made eye contact, she shook her head and mouthed the words, “Don't do it.”

  I shut my lips tightly.

  Magella turned to my sister. “We must get her to drink this. Before dawn. Or you don't want to see what happens.” She walked to my sister. She stood in front of her, put her hands on her shoulders, and stared into her eyes. For a minute I thought she would threaten to do harm to Zinnia, and then I would have to admit defeat and drink the damn tea. Instead, she dropped her hands and turned toward the window behind me.

  “The first rays of dawn appear on the horizon,” Magella said.

  Almost instantaneously, the first birds of the morning began their song. Magella stood frozen for a few moments, and then she said, “It's too late. She comes.” And if I thought her face was pale and ashen before, it was white as paper now. Her eyes were like circles sitting in her wrinkled face.

  Whoever was coming had scared the living daylights out of Magella.

  A thunk hit the window, causing everyone to almost jump out of their skin. Then there was another thunk and then another, even louder.

  “Get her out of here!” she screamed to my sister. They both fell upon me, untying my hands. “Move!” she screamed at me.

  Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. The noises grew louder. Birds flew into the windows with such impact, they shattered. So many were around that they were tipping the boat.

  Magella grabbed my arm with such force that you would never guess she was an old woman. Before she got me out the door, I attempted to grab the rolling pin from the counter, but it slid to the floor. Bending down, I grabbed at it again, missing.

  “Oh no you don't!” Magella yelled. She grabbed my hair and pulled me upright, and then she threw me into the door. My head smarted, and I turned to see that she held a handful of my hair in her hands. A big grin spread across her face, showing a scattering of missing teeth. Her breath smelled like rotting flesh.

  Birds continued to puncture the boat, and she opened the door. She pushed with so much force that I flew out to the railing and over the edge of the boat and into the water. The water was calm, but the boat had drifted from the dock about fifty feet—purposefully, no doubt. I would have to swim.

  As I did the doggy paddle, I turned back to see hundreds of birds flying toward the boat. There were huge black birds, seagulls, and many others. Magella stood on the small deck, trying to make it back to the door and swinging her fists at the birds, which were attacking her whole body. Unbelievably, my sister pushed past her out the door with the rolling pin in hand and threw it toward me. Why would she try to help me?

  “No!” Magella shrieked.

  It sank, and I went for it.

  I swam down a ways, and the water was dark. Immediately I somehow grabbed at it, and it was in my hands. I heard a loud splash. Something had jumped into the water, sending chills down my spine. I could only hope that my sister had come to her senses and escaped the boat.

  Almost to the top of the water, I felt something hot grab my ankle; it was torridly hot. It yanked me down, and I looked over my shoulder in the darkness to see Magella encased in a reddish aura. Her eyes were bloodshot and her hair
cascaded out to the sides, causing her to look Medusa-like. As my eyes focused better, it occurred to me that it wasn't hair after all but sea snakes swimming past her head—and toward me.

  A scream tried to escape my throat, and bubbles came out of my mouth. Squirming, I couldn't break free. My lungs burned badly. She pulled me down farther, and I knew I had to break free now, or die. With all my might, I hit her in the head with the rolling pin, as snakes entwined themselves around my arms. I didn't think the rolling would move very fast in the water, but it sailed through, smacking her upside the head, stunning her and causing her eyes to cross. Her grip loosened, and I whacked her again. Her hand continued to hold and burn my leg.

  I hauled the rolling pin back to hit her a good one but paused as a bright light appeared overhead, lighting up the whole area. Then it faded, only moments later to return, lighting everything up as though it were the sun.

  Birds began diving in. Big, black birds with sharp beaks. Some of them ripped the snakes from my arms, and others went farther down to reach Magella.

  Releasing my foot in a hurry, she swam backward. An unnatural scream of anger escaped her mouth along with big bubbles, and she swam away, disappearing into the ocean.

  I was so mesmerized that for several moments I’d forgotten the pain from not breathing; it finally returned when I saw the light fade and the birds retreating. I swam to the surface, my head breaking out through the water, and I hauled in long, gasping breaths. When I finally reached the dock, I plopped the rolling pin down, hauled myself out, and lay there, staring at the birds flying overhead. I had to wonder if Zinnia threw the rolling pin to me on purpose—that she did it to help me. I'd like to think so. But Magella had said it knew Izadora wanted it. Had it used some sort of power to make Zinnia throw it?

  The birds were leaving, going back to wherever it was they'd come from. Some had died with the impact they had given to the houseboat, and they floated in the water.

  The sunrise shone over the horizon, with a big, thick orange band and red and pink clouds. I finally felt a moment’s peace, but I wanted to get out of there. Pushing myself up, I reached for the rolling pin. My hand had just set upon it when a huge eagle swooped down and grabbed it right out from underneath my grip, and it stood about five feet from me. The eagle wore a crystal stone around its neck that glowed and dimmed. It had to be the source of light I'd seen in the water.