Destroyed by Magic

Bella

I stare at the intricate tower of crystals I’ve assembled in the shop window. The stones gleam in the dull November sunlight, their rainbow colours brightening the shop interior, shifting and changing as they catch the light. It’s going to make a fantastic display, if I can just position this final crystal at the top of the tower it will be perfect.

I look down at the stone I’m holding in my hand, it’s the most impressive. Large, with sharp angles, it glistens with an almost blue sheen, it will really set the whole thing off, if I can just get it up there. But there’s a problem. Standing on my tiptoes I’d barely managed to place the last crystal; this one was going to be way more difficult.

I could go and get the stepladder from down in the cellar, but… well I am a witch, I shouldn’t need it. What’s the point of being a witch if you can’t use your powers to do simple things like this. I might be the weakest in the coven; not all of my spells work out exactly as intended but… this is such an easy spell. What could go wrong?

I reach inside me, focusing on the small well of power at my core, I concentrate, my whole intent on lifting the crystal. At first nothing happens; it just lies flat in my hand.

Frustrated but not deterred, I dig deep, reaching for my power again. Shakily the crystal begins to move from side to side, rising very slowly into the air. I squeal with excitement; I can’t believe it’s working, that for once my magic is actually behaving the way it’s supposed to.

My momentary lapse in concentration causes my magic to stutter, and the crystal falls flat and unresponsive into the palm of my hand. I stare down at it disappointed, but this isn’t the time to give up, I’d managed to make it move that was a positive, I just needed to try harder.

I call to my power again placing all my focus on the crystal. It begins to rise, but this time its movement is faster and more difficult to control. It moves jerkily, up and then to the side, as it weaves its way into the air. I can’t let it fall again. Concentrating as hard as I can on the crystal, I raise my arms and point them towards it willing my magic to pass through me and into the recalcitrant stone. I hold my breath as it nears the top of the display, just a few centimetres to go and I will have succeeded. Suddenly it shoots forward like a bullet and smashes into the side of the tower.

I watch in horror as the tower begins to crumble, crystals rain down upon me. I hold up my arms trying to protect my face, as they scratch and tear into my skin. The stones fall to the ground scattering across the floor and rolling under the display cases that line the walls.

Taking a step back, I slip on a crystal and lose my balance. I fall, banging my head on a case full of herbs, on the way down. My arms flail in a futile attempt to regain my balance and I knock a glass jar full of feverfew onto the floor. It shatters and the herbs and glass add to the mess littering the carpet.

Hearing the commotion my mum comes charging into the shop from the storeroom. “Bella, what’s going on I heard…” she stops when she sees me lying on the floor surrounded by debris. “Bella, are you OK?”

I nod and shakily dust myself off. As I try to rise to my feet I slip on a piece of glass and crash back down on the floor cutting my hand.

“Stay there,” she orders. “I’ll get something to clean this up.” She retreats into the storeroom returning, a few minutes later with a dustpan and brush.

“What were you doing?”

“I was just finishing off the window display; I made a bit of a mistake….” I shrug my shoulders, “and then the crystals sort of crashed.”

She frowns at me “Did you try to use magic?”

I mumble guiltily unable to meet her eyes. “It was a simple spell….”

“Oh Bella,” she rolls her eyes, “there are no simple spells where you’re concerned. We’ve talked about this before stop trying to perform magic in the shop.”

“Stop trying to use magic anywhere you mean,” I mutter.

“You have to be careful; your magic doesn’t work properly which makes it dangerous,” she scolds.

“But if I could just practise a bit more…, it’s bound to improve.”

She sighs and raises her hand to stroke my cheek. “Bella, you are twenty-three years old, if your magic was going to improve it would have done so by now. You’ve been through all the magical training that the coven can provide, you’ve read all the instruction books and grimoires available in the castle library. I know you’ve worked hard, practised diligently, but none of that’s helped. You just have to face it; magic isn’t for you. Concentrate on the things you’re good at.”

“Like what?” I scowl. “I don’t have any abilities,”

She smiles at me and shakes her head. “Of course you do. You’re great at growing plants and herbs, and you’re amazing at sourcing rare potion ingredients. They’re important skills, none of the witches in the coven would be able to perform spells without them.”

My shoulders slump, “they don’t think they’re important; they despise me for only being able to grow a few plants. I appreciate that you’re trying to make me feel better mum, but the coven will never really accept me, unless I can show them, I have strong magical ability.”

“Nonsense, don’t let the prejudice of a few ignorant people get you down.” She looks at the debris on the floor. “Let’s get this mess cleaned up and then we can have a nice cup of tea.”

She starts to sweep up the herbs and glass with her brush, only to be interrupted when the door to the shop opens.

“What on earth happened here?” A male voice asks gleefully. “Let me guess Bella the useless, manged to cause mayhem again.”

I turn around to see a familiar short man with pale blue eyes and white, blond hair standing in the shop doorway. I groan. My day could not get any worse. Of all the people to turn up at this moment it had to be Artie, our priestess’ beloved only son, and my nemesis.

My mother shoots a warning look at me, as Artie saunters into the shop, a malicious grin on his face. I press my lips together, trying to control myself. I have a quick temper and taking on Artie never ends well for me.

He’s been bullying me for years, ever since it became clear that I had a woeful lack of magical ability. I’ve always tried to fight back, but my magic is too weak for me to be able to defend myself properly. I should’ve learned by now to keep my head down and my mouth shut, but I just can’t help responding to his taunts. All it’s gotten me is cuts and bruises or nasty side effects from some cruel hex. Which is probably for the best, as the priestess would never have allowed anyone to harm her precious son. As far as she’s concerned Artie can do no wrong.

He pulls out his phone and begins snapping pictures of me lying on the floor, I must look a state, cut and bruised, with my shirt torn and surrounded by the mess of herbs and crystals.

“One for the coven’s WhatsApp group, I think. Yet more evidence of how unworthy you are to be a member of this coven, why mother doesn’t just throw you out…”

“Do you need something Artie?” my mother intervenes quickly before I can respond.

“What?” he startles, and turns to stare at her, surprised to be interrupted.

“Do you need something?” she repeats patiently. “Ingredients for a spell perhaps, a particular artefact.”

“What no, I wouldn’t get my potions ingredients from here,” he sneers. “I source mine from the best suppliers in London. No my mother asked me to drop in. She wants to know if her order has arrived, and when you’re going to deliver it.”

“It arrived this morning. Tell her I will bring it up to the castle this afternoon. I just need to…” she gestures to the mess on the floor.

“Well don’t take too long clearing up,” he warns, “she wants her delivery urgently and she won’t be happy if your useless daughter is the reason she doesn’t get it in time. Bella’s already skating on thin ice.”

“I won’t,” my mum promises.

“Good,” he turns to leave.

“Let’s get this mess cleared up and then I’ll get Evander’s order ready, she can’t be kept waiting.” Mum returns to sweeping up the wreckage.

I shakily rise to my feet and start picking up the crystals. It takes me half an hour to gather them all together. The last few have slid under one of the display cases, so I get down on my hands and knees again and reach underneath to try and grab them. I accidentally bump the case with my shoulder, it begins to rock from side to side, and a tray full of empty glass bottles slides off and smashes on the floor.

“Oh Bella” my mother shrieks.

I’m just as clumsy when I’m not using magic. My five-foot eight curvy body doesn’t lend itself to elegance and agility. I’m strong, and I like to think reasonably fit, but I’m prone to tripping over my own feet, and bumping into things as I go.

“It’s going to take me ages to clean up this mess! I think it would be better if you delivered Evander’s order to the castle for me.”

It’s a measure of just how much my mother wants rid of me that she’s prepared to let me take the order to the castle. Normally she tries to keep me as far away from Evander and the coven’s ruling committee as possible, not wanting me to draw their attention, but after the chaos I’ve caused today, she’s desperate to get me out from under her feet.