Chapter 1: Grandma And I
My Grandmother called me one day and said, "Adelaide."
I replied, "Yes grandma."
She said, "Be strong in character, let your integrity be your navigator, don't fall for cheap blackmail, but above all let love and humility rule your life, because even the devil cannot resist LOVE." She said.
"Ah! Grandma, how did you know that? Devil cannot resist love?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowed together in unison.
"Sit down, let me tell you this story." She said, with her voice so shaky. But there was delight in it.
I took a small wooden stool and sat right next to her. Staring at her with full concentration.
"There was a woman who was a witch." she started. "This woman was average in wealth but lost her husband which is the major reason she joined the coven. She had only one child who happened to be a girl." Grandma took a pause and hummed, as if she was actually remembering the scene.
My eyes searched hers, more concentrated. More interested. Knowing this might actually be a true life story.
"This girl was well trained but she retrained herself." My grandma continued. "She was HUMBLE, LOVABLE, INTELLIGENT and exhibited LOVELY character always. As the practice were, all members of this coven had to, at a point in time, bring their first girl child for atonement. Especially when they hit puberty stage. Immediately after their first menstruation if it's a girl. That was the oath they've all taken before joining the community. After a while, it was the turn of this woman to bring her only daughter. But because this girl was extremely nice and lovely, she didn't have the boldness to use her. So, she requested for a favour from her coven mates."
"Please my colleagues, I know I'm obliged to bring my own sacrifice, I have collected from you all, so you have to collect mine too. But please do me this favor, I can't bring this my daughter by myself, so, I will mystically put her soul inside calabash, and request you to come and pick it on a day that I won't be around."
Her colleagues accepted. They obliged her and gave her that honour. So, on the said day, the woman did as she had promised. Placed her daughter's soul in a calabash, covered it up and gave it to the daughter with some instructions.
"Don't try to open it, some women will come looking for me, just give it to them." She then left the house.
The lady kept the calabash under the bed and began to wait for their August visitors. At around midday, they arrived. As the lady spotted them from afar, she jumped up to meet them, knelt down and greeted them very warmly. She collected their bags and led them inside the house.
Immediately they got inside, she ran straight to bring cold water for them to drink. She also fetched water for them to wash their legs because their legs were dirty for effect of the journey. She entered the kitchen and made them hot chicken soup that tasted like heaven.
They ate and were satisfied. Then she went inside to bring the calabash and knelt down to hand it to over them, she said. "My mother asked me to give you this calabash when you come."
They both looked at themselves, shook their heads and replied, "Return the calabash. When your mother comes, tell her that 'what is inside the calabash could not allow them to take it away'."
She passionately pleaded, "Mothers are you angry? My mum will be angry if I don't give this to you."
"No!" They chorused "We are not. Just tell your mother what we said. She will understand." they replied in sincerity and left with empty hands and clean bodies.
Her mother returned and was expecting sympathizers to begin telling her what happened. But no one said anything other than the normal, "Welcome ma." Her neighbors greeted.
She was getting close to the house, yet no cry from anywhere.
"Oh my! What's happening?" She soliloquised.
Suddenly, her daughter saw her and jumped out to greet her, with warm embrace.
She promptly queried her; "how about the people I said will come, didn't they come?"
"Grandma, they came!" She replied her mother with a bright smile.
"Didn't you give them the calabash?" Her eyebrow knotted in curiosity, with a high pitched voice.
She answered, "I gave them mum, but they said 'what is inside the calabash could not allow them to take it away'."
The old woman looked up and with tears rolling down her cheeks, told her daughter, "Keep doing what you know how to do best!"
"My Daughter, do I still have to explain the lessons in this story? I said, no ma, I understand perfectly."
"Yes good child, I know you are full of wisdom..."
"But grandma. Is this story close to reality?" I asked with more questions laced in my eyes, in excitement.
"Yes, my grandchild. I just told you the story about your late mother and I. And tomorrow, they would come for you... My first grand child as well."
My smile dropped and I could feel my jaw touching the floor.
"W...what?! Are you still in the community, grandma?! Are you a witch?!!" I felt a darkness storming in my eyes as it widened. I just couldn't believe it!
All of it!
Any of it!
"Yes, Adelaide. A member can never leave, even our souls are tied together in the afterlife." she explained.
Just then, I noticed the tears clouding in her pale eyes.
"B...but grandma. Why?"
"I won't take your soul... Or let anyone take you away from me. I've been a witch for over 50 years and I don't want you to have go through so much pain like I have. As it is. You're the only seed I have left in this world so... I would give you a peaceful life. Come here." She held me closer as we broke into each other's arms, quivering in tears in a warm hug.
Just then, grandmother unlocked the clasp of the old, silver necklace on her neck and placed it around mine. Immediately, her skin turned black and cracky. Burning like an invisible fire was taking over her body.
"What's this, grandma?" A single tear rolled down my eyes as I looked at the sea-green pendant. It was a spherical amazonite. "What's happening to you?"
"Yes, my grandchild. I just told you the story about your late mother and I. And tomorrow, they would come for you... My first grand child as well." My smile dropped and I could feel my jaw dropped to the floor.
"W...what?! Are you still in the community, grandma?!" I felt a darkness closing in my eyes as it widened. I just couldn't believe it. All of it.
"Yes, Adelaide. A member can never leave, even our souls are tied together in the afterlife." she explained, to me in penitence.
Just then, I noticed the tears clouding in her pale eyes.
"B...but grandma. Why?"
"I won't take your soul... Or let anyone take you away from me. I've been a witch for over 50 years and I don't want you to have go through so much pain like I have. As it is. You're the only seed I have left in this world so... I would give you a peaceful life. Come here." She held me closer as we broke into each other's arms, quivering in tears in a warm hug.
Just then, grandmother unlocked the clasp of the old, silver necklace on her neck and placed it around mine. Immediately, her skin turned black and cracky.
"What's this, grandma?" A single tear rolled down my eyes as I looked at the sea-green pendant. It was a spherical amazonite. "What's happening to you?"
"I was able to save your mother but I might not be able to save you. It's time for me to leave, my dear. That's why I told you my secret, today."
Her face look relaxed, but one could still see the faint outline of wrinkles around her eyes-eyes which seemed to sparkle ever so slightly despite the dullness of the room. Even the corners of her mouth seemed to fight against his normally stoic expression, betraying how he really felt. A gentle smile formed on his lips.
"But grand ma. You can't die! Can't your friends help you on this?" I cried out loud, seeing the horrid expression firming in her tired eyes.
"No, my grand daughter. No one can help me this time. Revealing our identity means death. And that's the only way I can save you." A sharp cough escaped through her dried throat as he held her chest in pain.
"Don't ever tell anyone about this. Be strong in character.... Let your integrity be your n...navigator." she managed to say.
"Save your strength, grandma. P..please." I begged, almost chocking in my own tears.
Hearing me say this, a small smile formed on her lips. But it faded immediately due to the pain that overwhelmed her skinny body. She even looked skinner. As if she wasn't the one, everything about my grandmother went different.
"Don't. Ever. Fall for cheap blackmail, but above all let love and humility rule your life, because... even the devil cannot resist LOVE." she ended her words. I held her face in my palms and it was deadly cold.
I held her hands in mine. And like a piece of flesh against the butcher's table, it fell to the ground. The warmth of life stolen by the cold embrace of death. The impact of her limp, lifeless body was synced with my silent wails, hoping for a different outcome. I sprinted over, forgetting the fatigue in my swaying legs from the ongoing battle I'm now faced with.
I walked outside and realised it was ghostly silent. The night wind blew gently, as if it whispered my name.
'Craaawww! Craaawww!!' A disturbing raven's cry caught my attention. I gazed at the black sky with curiosity. Just then, I realized how dark the night was with no moon or stars. Everything were hidden into the blanket of the night. I could feel my poor heart racing against my chest... 'Why do I feel so terrible? Are the witches coming after me?' My thoughts clouded as I boldly held back the tears that threatened to fall. My eyes were a river bank already, and I needed to do something. I needed to run.
Before I could make a move, in front of me was the blur vision of three terrible looking witches walking towards me. My ears rang as they moved closer and my heart sank into the depth of my stomach. This was just a sensation. Suddenly, my vision cleared. I could see, smell and feel their presence around. A power I never knew grew in me until now.
"Grandma." I gushed from the awkward sensation and an unusual stormy wind came from the skies.
A drop of blood trickled from my left nostril, and sand suddenly entered my eyes. Quickly as I can, I wiped it off with the back of my hand and a loud faded cry filled the dusty air. The doors and windows flew open, screaming to me that I should come in. I did that in a swift of seconds as I searched around to hold unto something. I laid my small hands on an old, rusty axe, knowing with full faith, that I can still defend myself.
The screeching cry came again, and the ground reeled behind me. Thunder claps lightened the cloudy sky, then I saw three witches flying towards me. Their cloak was dark as sin, and their pointed hats made me realize what I face.
I pulled myself back to get ready. Just then, I realized that the blue amazonite necklace on my neck flashed blue, blinding light. Confused of what to do or what it meant, I took it off and pointed it towards the witch's which were now getting off their flying brooms.
"Oh, you must be Phoebe's granddaughter!" the first asked as she approached. On her was a plum flowing dress. She catwalked towards me, like a queen, letting out a dark smirk as she stepped down from her broom. Her dark veins were transparent enough to see from her pale-white skin, especially from her neck and the back of her hands. I sensed she was the most powerful witch when my eyes caught her demonic smirk in the dusty night. The other two sat on theirs, still hanging in the air.
Seeing how horrible they looked, I couldn't help myself. I just wallowed down the lump in my throat. As if under a spell, the old axe dropped from my hand as my eyebrows shot towards them.
"Oh my, she's scared."
All of a sudden, she bursted out into an almost maniacal laughter, and others joined her in the crazy laughter. "She's a scaredy-cat, after all."
"Get away from me, you horrible witches! What do you want?" I warned, but my voice ended up shaky.
"Oh, she's saying something." The other with black long hair turned to me and her eyes suddenly started glowing in neon red.
Disillusioned that I may die, my small, trembling hands grabbed from the floor and pointed the necklace at them and at once.
The lady before me snapped her finger. The next thing I noticed was that the necklace was now in her hands.
"Give it back! It's my grandma's last-hummmm...." I felt my veins tightening. I couldn't say a word or stand or even move.
"You're now alone, Adelaide. Nobody would save you, not even grandma."
'Aphrokaducca Ebrusadrikka... '
The other witch walking towards me had a golden blond hair. Her hands twisted as she made the incantations. My stiff bones twist on her control and I was in so much pain. So much pain that the blood soaring in my ears wouldn't let me listen, let alone , think. As I fight to break through, the wind grew stronger.
My vision suddenly became a blur as I heard some cracking. Looking down, I realized the grasses were growing fierce rooty legs and branchy arms by themselves. As if magical, they were tying my weak body against the ground. I closed my eyes, reciting my last prayers as the plants engulfed me like a snake. A sharp shriek busted out my lungs to the most excruciating pain I'd ever experienced. My bones and muscles creaked as I lowered my cry to save the strength. Knowing I wouldn't make it out alive, I still tried to breathe.
A boisterous laugh escaped their black lips as they stood by me. Looking down at my trembling body, like a piece of trash. They clapped thrice and everything faded into the ghost silence. Pitch black, as if nothing happened.
The howling in the distance faded to the endless moonlight, and I met myself where I least expected. In the coven, with other witches. That night, I had to choose either to die or become a member of their secret society.
I replied, "Yes grandma."
She said, "Be strong in character, let your integrity be your navigator, don't fall for cheap blackmail, but above all let love and humility rule your life, because even the devil cannot resist LOVE." She said.
"Ah! Grandma, how did you know that? Devil cannot resist love?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowed together in unison.
"Sit down, let me tell you this story." She said, with her voice so shaky. But there was delight in it.
I took a small wooden stool and sat right next to her. Staring at her with full concentration.
"There was a woman who was a witch." she started. "This woman was average in wealth but lost her husband which is the major reason she joined the coven. She had only one child who happened to be a girl." Grandma took a pause and hummed, as if she was actually remembering the scene.
My eyes searched hers, more concentrated. More interested. Knowing this might actually be a true life story.
"This girl was well trained but she retrained herself." My grandma continued. "She was HUMBLE, LOVABLE, INTELLIGENT and exhibited LOVELY character always. As the practice were, all members of this coven had to, at a point in time, bring their first girl child for atonement. Especially when they hit puberty stage. Immediately after their first menstruation if it's a girl. That was the oath they've all taken before joining the community. After a while, it was the turn of this woman to bring her only daughter. But because this girl was extremely nice and lovely, she didn't have the boldness to use her. So, she requested for a favour from her coven mates."
"Please my colleagues, I know I'm obliged to bring my own sacrifice, I have collected from you all, so you have to collect mine too. But please do me this favor, I can't bring this my daughter by myself, so, I will mystically put her soul inside calabash, and request you to come and pick it on a day that I won't be around."
Her colleagues accepted. They obliged her and gave her that honour. So, on the said day, the woman did as she had promised. Placed her daughter's soul in a calabash, covered it up and gave it to the daughter with some instructions.
"Don't try to open it, some women will come looking for me, just give it to them." She then left the house.
The lady kept the calabash under the bed and began to wait for their August visitors. At around midday, they arrived. As the lady spotted them from afar, she jumped up to meet them, knelt down and greeted them very warmly. She collected their bags and led them inside the house.
Immediately they got inside, she ran straight to bring cold water for them to drink. She also fetched water for them to wash their legs because their legs were dirty for effect of the journey. She entered the kitchen and made them hot chicken soup that tasted like heaven.
They ate and were satisfied. Then she went inside to bring the calabash and knelt down to hand it to over them, she said. "My mother asked me to give you this calabash when you come."
They both looked at themselves, shook their heads and replied, "Return the calabash. When your mother comes, tell her that 'what is inside the calabash could not allow them to take it away'."
She passionately pleaded, "Mothers are you angry? My mum will be angry if I don't give this to you."
"No!" They chorused "We are not. Just tell your mother what we said. She will understand." they replied in sincerity and left with empty hands and clean bodies.
Her mother returned and was expecting sympathizers to begin telling her what happened. But no one said anything other than the normal, "Welcome ma." Her neighbors greeted.
She was getting close to the house, yet no cry from anywhere.
"Oh my! What's happening?" She soliloquised.
Suddenly, her daughter saw her and jumped out to greet her, with warm embrace.
She promptly queried her; "how about the people I said will come, didn't they come?"
"Grandma, they came!" She replied her mother with a bright smile.
"Didn't you give them the calabash?" Her eyebrow knotted in curiosity, with a high pitched voice.
She answered, "I gave them mum, but they said 'what is inside the calabash could not allow them to take it away'."
The old woman looked up and with tears rolling down her cheeks, told her daughter, "Keep doing what you know how to do best!"
"My Daughter, do I still have to explain the lessons in this story? I said, no ma, I understand perfectly."
"Yes good child, I know you are full of wisdom..."
"But grandma. Is this story close to reality?" I asked with more questions laced in my eyes, in excitement.
"Yes, my grandchild. I just told you the story about your late mother and I. And tomorrow, they would come for you... My first grand child as well."
My smile dropped and I could feel my jaw touching the floor.
"W...what?! Are you still in the community, grandma?! Are you a witch?!!" I felt a darkness storming in my eyes as it widened. I just couldn't believe it!
All of it!
Any of it!
"Yes, Adelaide. A member can never leave, even our souls are tied together in the afterlife." she explained.
Just then, I noticed the tears clouding in her pale eyes.
"B...but grandma. Why?"
"I won't take your soul... Or let anyone take you away from me. I've been a witch for over 50 years and I don't want you to have go through so much pain like I have. As it is. You're the only seed I have left in this world so... I would give you a peaceful life. Come here." She held me closer as we broke into each other's arms, quivering in tears in a warm hug.
Just then, grandmother unlocked the clasp of the old, silver necklace on her neck and placed it around mine. Immediately, her skin turned black and cracky. Burning like an invisible fire was taking over her body.
"What's this, grandma?" A single tear rolled down my eyes as I looked at the sea-green pendant. It was a spherical amazonite. "What's happening to you?"
"Yes, my grandchild. I just told you the story about your late mother and I. And tomorrow, they would come for you... My first grand child as well." My smile dropped and I could feel my jaw dropped to the floor.
"W...what?! Are you still in the community, grandma?!" I felt a darkness closing in my eyes as it widened. I just couldn't believe it. All of it.
"Yes, Adelaide. A member can never leave, even our souls are tied together in the afterlife." she explained, to me in penitence.
Just then, I noticed the tears clouding in her pale eyes.
"B...but grandma. Why?"
"I won't take your soul... Or let anyone take you away from me. I've been a witch for over 50 years and I don't want you to have go through so much pain like I have. As it is. You're the only seed I have left in this world so... I would give you a peaceful life. Come here." She held me closer as we broke into each other's arms, quivering in tears in a warm hug.
Just then, grandmother unlocked the clasp of the old, silver necklace on her neck and placed it around mine. Immediately, her skin turned black and cracky.
"What's this, grandma?" A single tear rolled down my eyes as I looked at the sea-green pendant. It was a spherical amazonite. "What's happening to you?"
"I was able to save your mother but I might not be able to save you. It's time for me to leave, my dear. That's why I told you my secret, today."
Her face look relaxed, but one could still see the faint outline of wrinkles around her eyes-eyes which seemed to sparkle ever so slightly despite the dullness of the room. Even the corners of her mouth seemed to fight against his normally stoic expression, betraying how he really felt. A gentle smile formed on his lips.
"But grand ma. You can't die! Can't your friends help you on this?" I cried out loud, seeing the horrid expression firming in her tired eyes.
"No, my grand daughter. No one can help me this time. Revealing our identity means death. And that's the only way I can save you." A sharp cough escaped through her dried throat as he held her chest in pain.
"Don't ever tell anyone about this. Be strong in character.... Let your integrity be your n...navigator." she managed to say.
"Save your strength, grandma. P..please." I begged, almost chocking in my own tears.
Hearing me say this, a small smile formed on her lips. But it faded immediately due to the pain that overwhelmed her skinny body. She even looked skinner. As if she wasn't the one, everything about my grandmother went different.
"Don't. Ever. Fall for cheap blackmail, but above all let love and humility rule your life, because... even the devil cannot resist LOVE." she ended her words. I held her face in my palms and it was deadly cold.
I held her hands in mine. And like a piece of flesh against the butcher's table, it fell to the ground. The warmth of life stolen by the cold embrace of death. The impact of her limp, lifeless body was synced with my silent wails, hoping for a different outcome. I sprinted over, forgetting the fatigue in my swaying legs from the ongoing battle I'm now faced with.
I walked outside and realised it was ghostly silent. The night wind blew gently, as if it whispered my name.
'Craaawww! Craaawww!!' A disturbing raven's cry caught my attention. I gazed at the black sky with curiosity. Just then, I realized how dark the night was with no moon or stars. Everything were hidden into the blanket of the night. I could feel my poor heart racing against my chest... 'Why do I feel so terrible? Are the witches coming after me?' My thoughts clouded as I boldly held back the tears that threatened to fall. My eyes were a river bank already, and I needed to do something. I needed to run.
Before I could make a move, in front of me was the blur vision of three terrible looking witches walking towards me. My ears rang as they moved closer and my heart sank into the depth of my stomach. This was just a sensation. Suddenly, my vision cleared. I could see, smell and feel their presence around. A power I never knew grew in me until now.
"Grandma." I gushed from the awkward sensation and an unusual stormy wind came from the skies.
A drop of blood trickled from my left nostril, and sand suddenly entered my eyes. Quickly as I can, I wiped it off with the back of my hand and a loud faded cry filled the dusty air. The doors and windows flew open, screaming to me that I should come in. I did that in a swift of seconds as I searched around to hold unto something. I laid my small hands on an old, rusty axe, knowing with full faith, that I can still defend myself.
The screeching cry came again, and the ground reeled behind me. Thunder claps lightened the cloudy sky, then I saw three witches flying towards me. Their cloak was dark as sin, and their pointed hats made me realize what I face.
I pulled myself back to get ready. Just then, I realized that the blue amazonite necklace on my neck flashed blue, blinding light. Confused of what to do or what it meant, I took it off and pointed it towards the witch's which were now getting off their flying brooms.
"Oh, you must be Phoebe's granddaughter!" the first asked as she approached. On her was a plum flowing dress. She catwalked towards me, like a queen, letting out a dark smirk as she stepped down from her broom. Her dark veins were transparent enough to see from her pale-white skin, especially from her neck and the back of her hands. I sensed she was the most powerful witch when my eyes caught her demonic smirk in the dusty night. The other two sat on theirs, still hanging in the air.
Seeing how horrible they looked, I couldn't help myself. I just wallowed down the lump in my throat. As if under a spell, the old axe dropped from my hand as my eyebrows shot towards them.
"Oh my, she's scared."
All of a sudden, she bursted out into an almost maniacal laughter, and others joined her in the crazy laughter. "She's a scaredy-cat, after all."
"Get away from me, you horrible witches! What do you want?" I warned, but my voice ended up shaky.
"Oh, she's saying something." The other with black long hair turned to me and her eyes suddenly started glowing in neon red.
Disillusioned that I may die, my small, trembling hands grabbed from the floor and pointed the necklace at them and at once.
The lady before me snapped her finger. The next thing I noticed was that the necklace was now in her hands.
"Give it back! It's my grandma's last-hummmm...." I felt my veins tightening. I couldn't say a word or stand or even move.
"You're now alone, Adelaide. Nobody would save you, not even grandma."
'Aphrokaducca Ebrusadrikka... '
The other witch walking towards me had a golden blond hair. Her hands twisted as she made the incantations. My stiff bones twist on her control and I was in so much pain. So much pain that the blood soaring in my ears wouldn't let me listen, let alone , think. As I fight to break through, the wind grew stronger.
My vision suddenly became a blur as I heard some cracking. Looking down, I realized the grasses were growing fierce rooty legs and branchy arms by themselves. As if magical, they were tying my weak body against the ground. I closed my eyes, reciting my last prayers as the plants engulfed me like a snake. A sharp shriek busted out my lungs to the most excruciating pain I'd ever experienced. My bones and muscles creaked as I lowered my cry to save the strength. Knowing I wouldn't make it out alive, I still tried to breathe.
A boisterous laugh escaped their black lips as they stood by me. Looking down at my trembling body, like a piece of trash. They clapped thrice and everything faded into the ghost silence. Pitch black, as if nothing happened.
The howling in the distance faded to the endless moonlight, and I met myself where I least expected. In the coven, with other witches. That night, I had to choose either to die or become a member of their secret society.
interesting chapter