Story plot
The story tells about Eve Evans, a thirty-year-old witch. She doesn´t know that she is a witch, until she meets her fairy god mother, Daphne. Daphne teaches her everything about her powers and skills. Eve pays her gratitude. Eve has a black Siamese cat, called Simeon. Simeon is her familiar, who helps and protects her.
Chapter 1 Huntress of the Night
It was a night of waxing gibbous moon in November. Eve Evans slept comfortably snoring in her own bed. She didn´t wake to the sound of moving curtains. Still, she experienced the cold breeze blowing against her bare arm. She was watching a dream, where she saw an owl flying towards her. On the same time, a woman appeared to fly on broomstick towards Eve´s window.
The woman was a witch, named Daphne. Daphne stopped in front of the window sill. She looked at the sleeping girl with pity and adoration.
Then, Daphne noticed a black, Siamese cat sitting on top of the closet. The cat´s yellow eyes peered at the intruder. Daphne realized that the cat was protecting its owner. She backed up. The cat took one great leap toward the witch, who fled immediately.
Eve didn´t know anything about the witch´s appearance, before she woke up. Then, she noticed a silver pentagram amulet laying on the window sill. Daphne was already long gone, before Eve awoke. Eve took the pendant to her palm and observed it. She decided to string it to her own thread necklace. She took it out from a drawer. She wore it around her neck and saw her image reflecting from a mirror.
She wondered about the origin of the pentagram. Eve thought that perhaps some bird had stolen it from a witch. Then, Eve noticed a folded note under the bedroom door. She picked it up and read it. In the note, it said: “Can you come to see me tonight at midnight in the Garden of Weeping Willows? I´ll be waiting for you there. -Huntress of the Night”
Eve was more confused, after reading the note. She had no idea, who was behind it and the pentagram. However, she imagined that it had something to do with the amulet. She fingered the pentagram lightly. She sensed the protective powers that it emitted. Eve didn´t tear the note. She folded it neatly into her pocket instead.
Then, she saw her cat, Simeon, coming towards her from the bed. The cat had been lying next to Eve´s pillow. She thought that her friend was hungry perhaps. Eve patted its back. Then, she lifted the cat up from the floor. Simeon began to purr. She carried him downstairs to the kitchen. There, she made them breakfast. She offered a bowl of milk for the cat. He licked the bowl. Then, Simeon showed his thankfulness to her. Simeon kissed her hand a couple of times.
Chapter 2 In the Garden of Weeping Willows
Eve viewed the note, which she had stored in her pocket earlier. It was the second night of waxing moon. She was curious to know that who was the sender. What was this all about? She added more clothes on top of her white night gown. Then, she headed to the garden outside on her own.
It took her ten minutes to get there. She adored the moon, while she walked. Its light showed her the path, where she was heading. She arrived to the Garden of the Weeping Willows. She identified a bench in the lawn. She walked over there and sat down. The moon shone on her face. She enjoyed bathing in its light.
Eve closed her eyes and imagined seeing the face of the Moon Goddess. She smiled to her from the surface of the moon disc. The goddess was her spiritual mother. Eve´s biological parents had died in a car accident. It happened one year ago. Since then, her life had suffered depressive moments. Eve never took medicine to relieve her anxiety. However, she visited a psychic healer´s appointment.
Now, she didn´t know that she was about to meet Daphne. The witch stood five meters apart from Eve´s back. She neared the bench in slow steps. Then, she stopped within one meter apart from the bench. She whispered: “I´m glad you came here, because I wasn´t sure.”
Eve turned her head. Then, her eyes confronted the strange young-looking woman in her forties. Daphne smiled to her bitterly. Eve asked: “Why, what´s wrong?”
“My name is Daphne and I invited you here. Where did you get that pentagram in your necklace?” Daphne asked.
“I found it from my window sill on this morning.” Eve replied.
“I just lost one amulet, which is similar to that one.”
“Then, this must be yours! Go on and take it.”
Eve removed the pentagram. She handed it to Daphne´s outstretched palm. Daphne took it and thanked the girl heartily. The witch´s face turned to a laughing sunshine. Her expression brightened. She signed the girl to stand up and follow her. Eve obeyed. She got up and followed her teacher. She felt Daphne´s hand taking her own hand.
Their touching donated Eve special strength. Daphne was glad that Eve wasn´t accompanied by the cat. She feared that Simeon might dislike her.
They walked forward, until they arrived next to a wisteria tree. Its blue flowers resembled clouds in Eve´s imagination. She saw Daphne´s hand extending to the branches. Her teacher withdrew an ancient spell book out from the tree. She opened its old cover and turned over the pages. Until, she found the right spell.
Daphne pulled Eve closer to her side. Then, Daphne spoke: “This is the initiation ceremony for witches. I want you to know that you are not a beginner witch, but an experienced one. From the first moment when we met, I knew that you are an old soul. Now read this dedication verse aloud. So you shall be an initiated witch.”
“Alright, I´ll do it.” Eve said.
Daphne lowered the book upon Eve´s hands. Eve began to recite the lines of text. She said: “Hail to the great Goddess of the Day and Night. I am Your child and at Your service. I will commit myself to studying magic. I ask for Your protection. My purpose is not to harm, but to heal. I promise to follow the Wiccan rede. I now claim myself to be a witch. So, mote it be.”
Daphne looked at her pupil in adoration. Eve was also glad that she had come here to claim her commitment. She looked at Daphne. Her teacher´s eyes were dark blue, like the starry sky in moonlit night.
Eve adored the stars in Daphne´s eyes for a while. Then, she said: “Wow, I never knew that you are such a cool person. You are also a real witch. I´m so glad that we both came here tonight.”
“You can come to see me here on anytime. You can send me a note or call my name, when the wind blows from the south.” Daphne replied joyfully.
Eve nodded her head gratefully. She embraced her teacher, who answered to her display of affection. Then, Daphne collected a wisteria branch from the ground. She offered it towards Eve´s chest. Eve observed the twisted branch. It had the shape of a double “S” letter. Soon, Eve realized that it was a wand. With it, she could make magic.
Daphne showed her, how to use the wand correctly. Eve learned it quickly. Soon, she was able to turn things into anything that she wished. She made gold coins out of small pebbles. She transformed one raven into a butterfly.
When she playfully pointed the wand toward Daphne, the teacher´s hands rejected it. Daphne realized that Eve could easily turn her into an animal. If she wanted.
Eve lowered the wand to her side. She looked at Daphne apologetically. Eve said: “I´m sorry that I pointed you with this wand. I wasn´t going to turn you into a frog or anything. I just want you to know that I respect you, teacher.”
“Well, thanks for saying so. I think that it is better that you now leave.” Daphne suggested.
“Fine, I´ll go. But when will I see you again?”
“Tomorrow, I´ll be here waiting for you again at midnight.”
Daphne´s patience seemed to be endless. Eve thanked Daphne, before she left. Then, she collected the wand from the earth. She saw Daphne rising in the air, on her broomstick. Within seconds, she flew high in the sky. Eve had never seen anything as unusual as that. She didn´t know that witches could fly so well. She was going to ask Daphne for a similar broomstick. To gain it for herself. Eve didn´t have a car, or any kind of bike. She had to walk, wherever she would go.
Eve returned home. She felt great afterwards. She entered to her own bedroom, where she met Simeon. The cat stared at her from the bed, where it lay curled. The cat expressed its concern for Eve by emitting a long “meow” sound. Eve apologized to Simeon. She said: “I´m sorry that it took me so long to come back. I wasn´t supposed to stay outside for the entire night. Let´s go back to sleep Simeon. Tomorrow you can come with me to the Garden of Weeping Willows.”
Lazily, Simeon licked his one paw. Eve interpreted it as a sign of his understanding. Then, it went to sleep on top of the blanket intact to Eve´s leg. They fell asleep.
In her dream, Eve saw Daphne again. They walked beside each other on the same willow garden. Simeon followed them. Daphne wanted to show Eve something. Then, she withdrew a clear quartz crystal out from her bag. The crystal shone white light all around itself. The witches adored the shining piece of stone in silence. It was Daphne, who began to speak first.
“I didn´t expect things to happen so quickly. However, I think that you are ready for the truth.” She said.
“What is the truth?” Eve asked right after her teacher.
“It is this!”
Daphne raised the crystal above their heads. Suddenly, the earth below their feet began to rock. There was an earthquake, which made things turn into chaos. The witches cried help. Eve awoke from the nightmare. The sight of the familiar roof calmed her agitated feelings a little bit. She swallowed the dryness in her mouth, but it didn´t help her so much.
She got up. She checked the time from a clock on the wall. She remembered that she had a meeting in the willow garden. Daphne was probably waiting her there already. Eve decided to get ready for the night. She discovered her purple dress hanging in her wardrobe. She considered it to be a perfect witchy costume to wear for the night.
No way, I should bathe before I leave! She reminded herself. She took a ritual bath in the bathroom first, before she got dressed. She dried her wet hair with a blow-dryer. Then, she curled it also. Eve looked like an old-fashioned witch in her own opinion. She was pleased with her image in the mirror.
Finally, she placed Simeon in a softened basket and took him along with her. The cat gnarled, while the basket rocked from side to side. She reassured him by telling that they´d soon reach the garden.
The moon shone brightly in the sky. When they arrived, Daphne stood next to a large oak tree. A purple wisteria flower was attached to her ear. She smiled broadly, when she noticed Eve and the cat. They saw her also. They came to her. She opened her arms in a welcoming gesture.
“I didn´t expect you to arrive here so soon. However, I´m glad that you came. I am going to show you something.” Daphne promised.
“What is that you are going to show us?” Eve asked.
“You´ll see it soon. Just follow me now!”
Eve did so. She lowered the basket from her hand. The cat jumped outside the basket, which had been placed safely on the ground. Eve took her wand, which pointed out from the basket. She felt safer when holding it in her hand. Still, she remembered her nightmare. She hoped that it wouldn´t become true.
They came to stop, after walking twenty meters behind the same oak. Simeon climbed up to sit on one wisteria branch. Daphne pointed to the moon with her wand. She told Eve that it was the time for them to honour the Moon Goddess. Her suggestion sounded appealing to Eve. Daphne told her what to do.
They crossed their arms over their chests and stood facing towards the Full Moon. What they were about to do, was the Drawing Down the Moon ritual. Then, Daphne started to speak like a High Priestess. “Goddess of the Moon, you have been known by many names, in many lands, in many times. You are universal and constant. In the dark of the night, you shine down upon us and bathe us in your light and aura. I ask you Divine One, to honour me by joining with me and allowing me to feel your presence within my heart.”
The women spread their feet apart. Their arms were raised in the air to welcome the goddess. Then, Daphne continued: “I am the mother of all life, the one, who watches over all. I am the wind in the sky and the spark in the fire and seeding in the earth, the water and the river. I am the vessel from which all things spring forth. Honour me from within your heart. Remember that acts of love and pleasure are my rituals and that there is beauty in all things. Honour me on this night of the Full Moon. I have been with you from since the moment you were created and shall remain with you always. Let there be beauty and strength, wisdom and humility and courage with you. If you need me, call upon me and I shall come to you. For I am everywhere, always.
Honour me as you seek knowledge. I am the maiden, the mother and the crone, and I live within you. I look down upon the sands of the desert, I crash the tides upon the shore. I shine in the mighty trees of the forests and watch with joy as life continues every cycle.
Be true to me, honouring that which I have created, and I shall be true to you in return. With harm to none, so it shall be.”
Behind her closed eyes, Eve saw light arriving from the sky above her head. She felt that light filled her up completely. She felt better and younger than in ages. She bet that Daphne felt the same. At least Eve heard Daphne´s laughter beside her. Daphne sounded joyful, like her heart was released of its former burdens.
Eve opened her eyes and saw her teacher. Daphne´s eyes were also open. She was looking at the moon and dancing. Eve joined her immediately. They became engaged in a creative ritual of dancing and clapping their hands. Until, they became exhausted and decided to rest on the bench.
Afterwards, Daphne said that they should repeat their dancing. Eve agreed. The time was three hours past midnight. The women decided to leave. They returned home, making as little noises as they could on the way.
Chapter 3 The Shadow Man
In the next morning, Eve woke up early at six o´clock. She noticed that Simeon stood on the window sill. His tail resembled a “Z”. He´d caught a glimpse of a white mouse in the garden. The observation got him excited. His body prepared itself to a hunting position. He waved his tail furiously, which worried Eve. Eve told him to stop. Then, Simeon turned his yellow gaze towards her eyes. She saw the hostile fire burning in his eyes.
He looked like he was warning her not to come closer. Eve turned her gaze toward the doorway. She heard steps arriving from the staircase. They neared her room. A figure of a young, tall and blond woman appeared. She was called Stephanie.
Stephanie was Eve´s step-mother. She greeted Eve with a sweet smile. Eve returned Stephanie a same kind of expression. Stephanie was kind and merciful even, when Eve broke the curfew. Now she had come to inform Eve that she would be gone for three days. Stephanie and her husband were going to repair their summer cottage in the countryside. Eve would have to stay home alone, until their home return.
After hearing the news, Eve agreed. She was fine with her step-parents´ departure. She trusted in Simeon´s company. She could invite Daphne to come over to the house. If she was going to be scared of the dark. Eve knew that shadow creatures existed. She had seen demons entering and leaving her home during the night. They made her nightmares to become real. She hated and feared ghosts.
She stood in front of the bathroom mirror. Eve began to wash her face with soap and water. She lifted her eyes and her mirror image stared back at her. Then, she saw a shadow moving fast behind her back. The scary moment caused her heart to jump up to her throat. She sensed the sudden coldness in the room. The air smelled of rotten eggs. Eve caught a second glimpse of the shadow soon after. It flashed on her right side.
It occurred to her that the shadow belonged to a man. She named it “the Shadow Man”. Eve believed that an evil spirit had penetrated in her house through the walls, or an open window. She wanted to get rid of the entity. She remembered her wand and went to fetch it. It lay on her bed table. She took it and turned around, suddenly.
A cloud of cold, damp air surrounded Eve. Inside it, she felt suffocated. No matter how hard she fought back the evil around her, its grip remained attached to her. Eve screamed in panic. She felt that the thing was strangling her with its bare clawed hands. She couldn´t remove them from her throat. The entity was physically stronger than Eve.
Suddenly, the thing let go of her and she became free again. Eve collapsed on the floor. She lay there, unconscious for twenty minutes. When her eyes opened, she saw Daphne´s face as the first thing. Her teacher looked at her, concerned. Daphne´s voice asked: “are you alright?”
“Yes, but I must have hit my head.” Eve replied.
“Are you able to get up?” Daphne continued.
“Yes, I think so. What happened?”
“You were attacked by a ghost. I arrived here early in time. When I saw you being in trouble, I wanted to help you right away.”
“So, you killed the ghost?”
“He was already dead, but I drove him away.”
Eve was thankful to Daphne. Daphne was the most talented witch, whom she´d ever met. Daphne had driven out the Shadow Man with her own secret weapon. Eve wondered that what it was. She got up slowly. She took steps closer to her teacher and hugged her.
Daphne informed Eve that she had to leave outside. The reason, she gave, was writing her spell-book. Eve accepted the answer. She gave Daphne her consent to leave. However, before Daphne went, Eve grasped her shoulder. She pleaded Daphne to tell her that how she´d killed the Shadow Man. Daphne shook her head. She said: “Another time I´ll tell you dear. Now, I´ve to go.”
STORY IS TO BE CONTINUED
