Morriganscrow
Un-named Book
by Susann Kae
This is a story I've on which I've been working for a while. I'm offering it as a serial publication in which a chapter will be published in the second weekly issue of Magickal-Media each month. Please help me find a name for the story as we go along. Thank you and enjoy.
Susannkae
Chapter 5
Caron got home from work that night, and opened the door to her house. A welcome whoosh of cool air surged around her. The change in temperature between the hot, arid desert air and the cooler temperature in the house always calmed her. She found Brenda engrossed in a book from her “witchy” library.
Brenda looked up as she entered the room and enquired about her day. “Hot and dry.” She replied. “But as the t-shirt says ‘It’s a dry heat’… okay, the guy saying it is leaning against a saguaro cactus and is just a skeleton.
Brenda smiled and just shook her head. “I do have a question though. Why do your books spell magic with a “k” at the end?”
“That’s a really good question,” Caron answered. “Let’s talk about it while we eat supper. Let me go and get out of these smelly clothes.”
She went into her bedroom and closed the door. “Dear Lady and Lord, please give me the right words to explain Wiccan beliefs and practices.” She prayed as she changed out of her work clothes and took a quick shower.
Clad in a t-shirt and jeans, Caron prepared dinner and Brenda helped make the salad and set the table. The plates were a pretty cream color with flowering cactus around the edges. Caron placed matching glasses and napkins out for Brenda to use.
“The books I have are mostly about Wicca, which is a neo-pagan spiritual path.” Caron explained. “A man named Gerald Gardner was very interested in non-Abrahamic religions and studied many of them. Since he passed away some time ago, there is some debate about why he took parts of many different religions and ideas and fashioned them into Wicca, but it made sense to him and it makes sense to a lot of other people, too.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I did look through a lot of your books while you were gone.” Brenda confessed. “The titles caught my eye and I couldn’t help myself. I understood some of it, but I’m confused.”
“That’s okay,” Caron grinned. “It makes it easier to try to explain if you have a little background. What questions do you have?”
“Well, why is magic spelled with a ‘k’?”
“We spell ‘magick’ with a ‘k’ so it’s not confused with sleight of hand tricks, like card tricks or making a rabbit disappear.” Caron explained.
Brenda looked confused. “So what’s the difference? Magic is magic, right? It’s all fake and easily explained, right? There are lots of books out there; even children can learn magic”
“Well, let’s start with some terms that you’re going to need to understand if you’re really interested in what you’ve been reading about today.”
“Okay, I really do want to learn more.” Brenda smiled. “It all seems so fascinating.”
“It is.” Caron agreed. “Let me get you a list of the words you are likely to encounter.” She found the paper in her coven notebook and handed it to Brenda.
Common Wiccan Terms and Definitions
Wicca is:
The modern version of an ancient nature religion. Nature religions were the very first religions practiced on the earth. They date back to pre-historic times. People today can practice Wicca; pre-historic people did not practice their religion exactly like Wiccans. We do not know exactly how they practiced because theirs was an aural religion and not a written religion.
Wicca or Wicce is an ancient Anglo Saxon noun that means a seer, or someone who can divine information by the use of magick. This word is also used as a verb and has the meanings: turn, bend and shape.
In Wicca we use magick. Wiccans may use the term “Witch” to describe themselves.
Magick is:
The word Magick comes from an old Greek word "Magos" and an old Persian word "Magus", these words mean seer or wizard. Wizard in old English means someone who is wise. We spell magick a little differently to clarify that it’s not magic tricks that someone does for a child’s birthday party or an audience.
A Witch is:
The Oxford dictionary gives this definition of a witch: A sorceress, esp. a woman supposed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits. An old ugly woman; a hag. This is how the world views witches. This is not what witches really are.
The word Witch comes from the old Germanic root "to know", and this means that a witch is a person who is wise.
Witches are well versed in both scientific and spiritual truths. Wiccan witches are all about love, and harmony. Wiccans heal, but Wiccans never harm anyone intentionally.
Wiccans:
Worship the Goddess and the God
Have deep reverence for the Earth
Accept the ability to use magick responsibly
Accept reincarnation as demonstrated in nature
Do not proselytize others
Brenda read the terms and definitions on the paper and turned to Caron incredulously, “You mean you really believe this stuff?”
Ah well, Caron thought, it can’t all be easy… “Yes, I do. And so do Mary and Beth.”
Brenda sat back from the table. “So you believe you are witches?”
Caron noted that Brenda looked as though she might bolt at any moment. “Yes, we are witches.”
“I saw the ‘Witches of Eastwick’ and ‘Hokus Pokus’” Brenda said slowly. “How can you claim to be like them?” Her eyes strayed to the back door that was just behind Caron. Measuring the distance.
“Well, that’s Hollywood.” Caron answered. “It’s not real. If you have to make a Hollywood comparison, we would be more like the sisters in ‘Practical Magic’, except we don’t deal with undead spirits like the guy in that movie.”
“I think I saw that movie.” Brenda said slowly. “But I also saw “The Good Witch” movies. Are you kinda like them?”
“In a lot of ways, we are.” Caron went on. “But it’s not all waving a magic wand like a fairy godmother and things happen to people. Wiccans have several texts that our elders have written. One of them is the Wiccan Rede, which is a guideline for how to conduct your magickal, or maybe it’s more accurate to say, your spiritual life. The most familiar part of the Wiccan Rede says, “Harm None, Do What You Will.”
“Well, that seems to give you license to do anything you want, whether it’s good or bad.” Brenda shook her head. “I’m not sure I go for that. It sounds like a cop out… too easy.”
“Let me explain,” Caron answered. “Harming none, makes you consider the different side-effects of the decisions you make. It’s not only about how it might affect a certain person, but how it affects the people they know, too. And, beyond that, it means that you are not supposed to harm yourself either.”
“God! That sounds stricter than some religions that I’m used to.” Brenda exclaimed. “So, what happens if you harm someone, or yourself?”
“We believe in the Law of Return. It’s a lot like the saying ‘You reap what you sow’.” Caron began gathering up the dishes and took them to the sink. “Just like when you throw a stone into a pond, the ripples of your actions or words fan out from when and where you said them and then come back to you at least three times. Some people believe it’s up to ten times.” Steam from the dish water rose and misted the window above the sink. “It’s like Karma. It’s going to get you in the end, one way or another.”
Lulled by the ordinary task of doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen, Brenda took up a dish towel and began to dry the dishes. “That sounds tougher than Christianity. I know the Bible says that all you have to do is confess what you’ve done wrong and you’re forgiven.”
“That sounds easy enough, and that’s how a lot of people interpret that verse, but you still have to deal with the earthly results of your negative words or actions, even in Christianity. It’s got a lot of similarities that way.” Caron responded. “But in Wicca, and many other types of Paganism, we are totally responsible for our own actions and words and have to accept the Karma of them, whether it’s good or bad.”
“That sounds a lot more complex than I ever imagined.”
“It’s not easy, if that’s what you mean.” Caron laughed. “I could tell you stories!”
Brenda stopped short. “I just realized I remembered seeing those movies.” She said slowly. She paused… “No, I can’t remember anything else.” And tears fell from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
***
“Micah!” Lucy called down the hallway towards the office, “Did Jack find Crystal yet?” She paused for only a second at the doorway and then entered.
Micah sighed, impatient with the interruption, and closed his laptop computer. “No, he hasn’t. I understand that JD is going out to take over the search. Jack will be back in a couple of days.”
“You cannot let that brute take over.” Lucy snorted. “He’s a menace to the human race. My God, I know he gets the job done, but he lays waste to human emotions, relationships, and a whole lot of personal property… that usually doesn’t belong to him!”
“Well, what do you want me to do?” Micah’s frustration was ready to explode at his sister. “Send you along too? You think anything you would do could possibly help?” His snide words were nearly snarled at her in a way only a brother can deliver them.
“Yes. That’s a good idea.” She responded recklessly, “I’ll keep an eye on JD and keep him in line.”
“Oh yeah,” Micah drawled, “Sure you will. I wonder if you can even keep up.”
“Okay, a wager.” She sneered at him, as she always did when she was determined to get her way by making him mad. “I’ll bet you that I can get to her before JD does and bring her back without his help.”
Micah stared at his sister for a long moment, mentally weighing the pros and cons. “You’re on.”
“If I win, I want you to pay for pilot’s lessons and you have to let my fly your plane… at least twice a month.” She smirked.
“Good God,” He shuddered, but amusement lit his eyes. “And if JD brings her back not only will you not have flying lessons, financed by me, but you’ll hand over the keys to your car and drive mine instead.
“Damn you!” She raged, “You want my Alpina!”
Micah shrugged. “You wanted to wager. I guess now you’re stuck with it.”
She smacked him on her way past him to go pack a bag. “The least you could do is deliver me out there in that fancy plane of yours.”
“Fat chance of that.” He retorted. “I’m not going to help you win.”
***
JD picked up the file on Melody Jones, aka Crystal. Jesus, he thought, they had not even given her the security of a last name when they were trying to nurse her back to health. Just Crystal.
He had packed a couple changes of clothing in a green carryon and hailed a taxi to take him to the airport. The agency had met his demand of first-class seating and a non-stop flight. His plane departed in just over two hours. He had plenty of time.
At the airport, his bag had scanned flawlessly. He’s gone to a newsstand and purchased an FBI thriller to read. The author he’d been reading had begun nearing the line of the fantastic, but he was still intrigued by a husband and wife FBI team who solved cases with flair, daring, and humor.
He sat in the waiting area and pulled out the book. Oh, oh… Well maybe he’d just leave this book on the table where someone else could read it. This time it was going to involve someone who could telepathically contact one of the FBI agents. As they called it in the book… it was Woo Woo stuff.
He stuffed the book into the carryon and glanced around the lounge. She met his eyes and smirked. He felt the slow burn rising up his neck and over his ears. Coincidence? Not hardly. The last time they had been together, he’d wanted to shoot her or spank her and she had patted his cheek, spit on his shoes, and walked away swinging her derriere. Damn, Damn, Damn!
To be continued...
