Phoenix and the Dark Star Read online

  “No-no, I’m not telling you to become sexually active,” Devon began. “I’m just recommending for you to lose your virginity if you’re a virgin, and you only have to have sex once for that.”

  “Why?” Ellen quickly asked.

  “Sacrificing virgins might make good horror movie plots, but they’re also a fact,” Devon began. “And if that sacrificing virgin happens to be a wizard or a sorceress then the benefits of the spell doubles for the one who’s performing the ritual.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Ellen told Devon.

  “Okay,” Devon said.

  “Alright, well, if no one has anything to add or to ask, we’re through here,” Blaire said.

  After a short moment of silence, Ellen said, “I do have something to tell Harris and Allyson, and it doesn’t really matter who hears.”

  “What is it?” Allyson asked.

  “My mom’s brother and parents didn’t die in a car accident as reported thirty-two years ago,” Ellen began. Except for Everett, everyone gave Ellen a curious look. “In fact, they’re very much alive and living here in Savannah, Georgia, and I had met my uncle just before returning home.” Ellen gestured towards the bag that she had brought in while continuing with, “He works at the drugstore.”

  “And you had no clue of your grandparents or uncle being alive?” Karla was the one to ask.

  Ellen shook her head before explaining, “They went into the witness protection program thirty-two years ago after witnessing Liam Seawall murdering someone, and Liam Seawall is Clayton Seawall’s father.”

  “And who’s Clayton Seawall?” Jessica asked.

  “The crime lord that my dad had worked for before my dad went to prison,” Ellen replied.

  “And you’re certain that the guy you’d met was your uncle?” Harris asked.

  “I’m very certain,” Ellen assured Harris.

  “I can vouch of how certain she is,” Everett added. “In fact, the man was trying to deny it at first, but when Ellen wouldn’t let up on him of him being her uncle, he finally came clean of who he was and why he was in hiding.”

  “Could this guy have been telling you what you had wanted to hear, Ellen?” Allyson asked. “Just to shut you up?”

  “No, he’s definitely my uncle,” Ellen replied. “And I knew who he was as soon as I saw a thick scar that encircled his right wrist.”

  “And you knew what your uncle’s scar had looked like?” Jessica asked.

  Ellen took a breath before saying, “When my mom was fifteen and my uncle was twelve, my mom had shoved my uncle back to keep him from stepping on a hamster; however, when my uncle was shoved back, he fell into a large glass window and his right hand was severed off at the wrist. It had been successfully reattached, but from the day of the accident to the day when my mom had died, she had always felt guilty that her brother had almost lost his hand from her shoving him back. And that scar at his right wrist and him favoring the picture that I have of my mom’s dad were how I recognized him.”

  “Okay, I’m convinced that you had met your uncle,” Harris began. “So what does that mean exactly?”

  Ellen shot Harris a confused look before asking, “What do you mean?”

  “You chose to live with Allyson and me because of your feelings towards your dad…” Harris was only able to get out.

  “This is my home,” Ellen interrupted. Harris and Allyson pleasantly grinned. “You, Allyson and Sonya are my family. My grandparents and uncle might be blood relatives, but they are also complete strangers to me and I won’t trade family for strangers no matter who those strangers might be. So the only thing I want from this is for me to get to know them.”

  “Okay,” Harris pleasantly agreed.

  “Of course there’s a good chance that I will never see them again,” Ellen added.

  “Why do you say that?” Allyson asked.

  “While my uncle and grandparents are in the witness protection program, they are not allowed to live in a city where someone knows their true names. And since I had correctly identified my uncle, my uncle and grandparents will most likely be relocated to a city where they can continue their aliases without fear of being discovered.”

  “Are you okay with that?” Allyson asked sympathetically.

  “I have to be,” Ellen replied. “I did give my uncle our address and the phone numbers to the house and to my cell phone.”

  Allyson grinned before saying, “That’s fine.”

  “Anyway, if we’re through here, there’s something I want to do before it gets too late,” Ellen said.

  “And what are you planning on doing?” Allyson asked.

  “Andie’s uncle lives a couple of blocks from us, and I’m going to talk with him… in Andie’s behalf,” Ellen explained.

  “Ellen, you shouldn’t be involving yourself in other people’s family matters,” Allyson told her.

  “Andie shouldn’t be on those drugs that her parents have her on,” Ellen retorted. “And I’m going to do what I can to convince Andie’s family of that—without getting myself into legal trouble.”

  Allyson sighed before saying, “If your mind is set on talking to Andie’s uncle, I have no doubt that you’ll find a way; however, if I have to bail you out of jail because of it…”

  “You won’t,” Ellen interrupted. “Getting myself into trouble won’t help Andie or me, and if I don’t at least talk to Andie’s uncle or do what I can within reason to help Andie, then I would feel like… like a lifeguard who had allowed a drowning swimmer to drown.”

  “Fine, go,” Allyson told Ellen in a defeated tone. “We’re going out to eat in an hour, so be back before then.”

  “Okay,” Ellen said as Jessica and Karla stood up.

  Ellen glanced at Jessica and Karla before turning towards the exit and walking away. Everett, Jessica and Karla followed Ellen out.

  Chapter Five

  Ellen, Everett, Jessica and Karla had found Cole Middleton’s house fairly easy. A car was parked in the driveway, and after the four had stepped up to the front door, they could hear a piano being poorly played.

  Ellen took a breath before ringing the doorbell. The piano had stopped for a brief moment before continuing.

  Ellen was about to push the doorbell again, but as she was in the motion to do so, the doorknob turned. As the door was opening, Ellen pulled back her hand.

  When the door opened wide, a man in his early thirties with brown skin, straight black hair, a week’s worth of black whiskers and facial features that screamed ‘India’ looked at the four at the door.

  “May I help you four?” he finally asked, with a slight southern accent.

  “Are you Cole Middleton?” Ellen asked.

  “I’m guessing that you four are here because of my ad; however…” Cole was only able to get out.

  “We’re not here about any ads, Mr. Middleton,” Ellen interrupted. “We’re here in Andie’s behalf.”

  “Andie who?” Cole asked.

  “Your niece Andie,” Ellen replied.

  Cole expression became serious before asking, “What about her?”

  “We met her yesterday, and we learned that she’s on medication when I know for a fact that she shouldn’t be,” Ellen said.

  Cole took a breath before asking, “What do you know for a fact?”

  “I own some diaries of my ancestors, and I knew before meeting Andie that there was a spirit attached to them,” Ellen began. “I thought that the spirit was my great-grandmother—she had owned the diaries before me, but after meeting Andie, I know that the spirit is Eleanor Thorne. And Eleanor Thorne is my ancestor who had lived in the 1400s.” Cole slightly nodded in acknowledgement. “Anyway, my point is, Andie is on medication for her delusions of seeing spirits, and I know for a fact that she can see spirits. She is a medium and she shouldn’t be on that medication.”

  Cole took a breath before prompting, “You and your friends would be?”

  “I’m Ellen,” she began before pointing ou
t the others. “They’re Jessica, Karla and Everett.”

  “Ellen… Jessica, Karla and Everett, what you four had learned about my niece last night, I had learned ten years ago,” Cole said.

  “So you know that Andie is able to see ghosts?” Karla questioned.

  “I know,” Cole began. “It’s my sister who refuses to see the truth.”

  “And you’re allowing Andie to be medicated when you know for a fact that she shouldn’t be?” Ellen demanded to know.

  “When it comes to Andie, I have no input whatsoever,” Cole said. “My sister had made that clear when she took a restraining order out on me. I’m not allowed twenty feet of Andie until she reaches her eighteenth birthday. I’m sorry, Ellen, I can’t help you or Andie. In fact, the only thing that can help Andie is if Andie suddenly stops seeing ghosts. So perhaps you four can create a charm that can prevent Andie from seeing them.”

  “Excuse me?!” Ellen demanded.

  “I don’t see ghosts, but I can hear them,” Cole began. “In fact, Mary, the woman who had this house before me, had actually died here. Mary’s spirit has never moved on, and she is currently screaming witches in my ear. Mary has never lied to me either, so I’m assuming that at least two of you are witches… good witches I might add since you four are here on Andie’s behalf.”

  “Mary might not lie to you, but she can be wrong, and in this case she is very wrong,” Jessica rattled out before Ellen could respond.

  Cole grinned before saying, “You four wouldn’t tell me differently anyway, and regardless, I would love to help Andie, but I can’t.” Cole then gestured behind him. “Anyway, I have a student at the piano. So I need to get back in there.”

  Before Cole could step away from the door, Ellen continued with, “You can hear ghosts and Andie can see and hear them, so apparently the ability to communicate with ghosts runs in your family.”

  “Insanity is what runs in our family, Ellen,” Cole said. “At least that’s the official… diagnosis. My mom had hung herself when I was nine months old because she was tired of the voices. Each of her siblings is on some kind of medication for having psychosis. My mom’s dad was institutionalized from a court order when I was ten. He’s still alive and is kept so drugged up that he can’t distinguish reality from his dreams, and his dad had also killed himself to get away from the voices.”

  “Your family members have certainly been… misunderstood and crucified for their ability over the generations,” Ellen commented.

  “They have,” Cole agreed. “In any case, you four have a good day.”

  “Good day,” Everett, Jessica and Karla echoed.

  With a troubled expression on her face, Ellen thought for a moment before taking a breath and sighing. “Good day.”

  Cole nodded with a slight grin before backing up and closing the door.

  “So what now?” Everett asked as the four casually walked away from the front door.

  “I want to do what Cole had suggested,” Ellen began. “I want to create a charm for Andie that will prevent her from seeing and hearing ghosts.” When Everett sighed, she told him, “I want to help Andie.”

  “I know you do,” Everett agreed. “Do you know anything about creating charms though?”

  “No,” Ellen confessed, “but Sadie might, so I’m going to ask her… and the others to help.”

  “And if they can’t help?” Everett asked.

  “Then I’ll try to come up with another way to help Andie,” Ellen replied.

  “You’re not going to give up until all the avenues have been investigated, are you?” Everett questioned.

  Ellen grinned while shaking her head. Everett just sighed. Ellen’s grin turned into an amused one as she took and held Everett’s hand.

  In the living room at the house, Blaire, Devon and Trevor were sitting on the couch. Harris and Allyson were sitting on the love seat while Sadie was sitting in the armchair. Sonya was sleeping in her playpen and the stereo was turned down to a very low setting. The two dining room chairs were left in the living room and sat empty.

  The group was having a conversation about Sally Harman, but when they heard the front door opening, the topic was dropped.

  “I expected them to be gone longer than this,” Blaire said as she glanced at her watch.

  When Ellen and the others entered the living room, Allyson told them, “You four are back sooner than I expected.” Ellen was noticing that Sonya was sleeping in her playpen as Allyson continued with, “Were you four able to speak with him?”

  “We spoke to him and he knew already,” Ellen said. “However, he was ordered by the courts not to go near Andie.”

  “So does that mean you’re giving up on this?” Allyson questioned.

  Ellen shook her head while saying, “I have another plan.”

  “I’m scared to ask, but I have to ask this anyway,” Allyson began. “What’s your plan?”

  “Cole had suggested that we should create a charm that would….” Ellen was only able to get out.

  “You told him about us?” Devon quickly demanded to know.

  “I didn’t,” Ellen assured him, “but apparently there’s a ghost residing in that house that he can only hear, and that ghost had informed on us as being witches…”

  “I quickly denied that we were witches before Ellen could confirm it,” Jessica interrupted.

  “What makes you think that I was going to confirm it?” Ellen quickly questioned. “I may not have.”

  “You have a habit of confessing, and I wasn’t going to take that chance,” Jessica retorted.

  Ellen rolled her eyes before saying, “Anyway, I want to create a charm… or a token that will prevent Andie from seeing and hearing ghosts.”

  “You know how to create a charm of that nature… or any charm for as that matters?” Devon asked.

  Ellen slightly cringed before saying, “No, but I was hoping to solicit some help from you, Sadie, Blaire and Trevor.”

  “It might be possible to invert the spell that makes a mirror capable of reflecting souls and spirits,” Sadie thought aloud.

  “So does that mean you’ll help?” Ellen asked Sadie.

  “Well, creating a charm that will prevent Andie from seeing and hearing ghosts is a solution less likely to get you into serious trouble,” Sadie retorted. Ellen shot Sadie a smirk. Sadie grinned as she continued with, “So yeah. I’ll help.”

  “Thanks,” Ellen said, gratefully.

  Sadie nodded before saying, “I’ll need your book on incantations that has the spell that makes a mirror capable of reflecting souls and spirits.”

  “I’ll go get it,” Ellen said.

  “Before you step away, Ellen, I thought of a couple more tidbits that you, Jessica and Karla should be aware of,” Trevor said.

  Everyone gave Trevor his or her focus as Ellen asked, “What are they?”

  “As you, Jessica and Karla well know, there are incantations that wizards and sorceresses can do that witches and warlocks can’t,” Trevor began. “However, thirteen or more devoted-to-the-craft witches and/or warlocks can make eighty percent of those incantations work by combining their magical energy.”

  “Is that where the thought of covens having to have thirteen members each had come from?” Everett asked.

  “Actually, that belief had come about in 1662 during Isobel Gowdie’s trial for being a witch,” Trevor began. “Isobel Gowdie had supposedly confessed that her coven had thirteen members, and so the belief that all witches’ covens having to be thirteen members was born.”

  “Interesting,” Everett replied.

  “So what is the second tidbit that you want us to know?” Ellen asked.

  “Everyone in the world is born with the potential of becoming a psychic,” Trevor began. “That potential psychic ability remains high within everyone until the age of eight with the occasional to frequent psychic or paranormal occurrences, and then after the age of eight that potential psychic ability begins to recede.

  “F
or five percent of the world’s population, that potential psychic ability will linger on beyond the age of twenty with the occasional psychic or paranormal occurrences. For two percent of the world’s population, that potential psychic ability will linger on beyond the age of thirty with the occasional psychic or paranormal occurrences. It’s only one percent of the world’s population—if even that—that actually becomes a bona fide psychic with frequent psychic or paranormal occurrences.”

  “Interesting,” Ellen told Trevor.

  “Of course if someone is a psychic, then his or her children and grandchildren… and so on have better chances of becoming psychics as well,” Trevor added.

  “Okay,” Ellen said in an uncertain tone.

  “Anyway, my point is that there are wizards and witches out there who will sacrifice children during their sacrificing rituals in order to tap into and utilize that potential psychic ability,” Trevor continued.

  “Great!” Ellen uttered unenthusiastically as she looked towards Everett. “As if Everett needs another reason to dislike the magical community.”

  Everett grinned before saying, “I know that everyone here doesn’t practice those sacrificing rituals.”

  Ellen rubbed Everett’s arm in a consoling manner with a grin. Everett gave Ellen a delightful grin for a response.

  Ellen then gestured towards her room while saying, “Anyway, I’ll go get the book that Sadie wants.”

  “Bring back a pencil with an eraser and a notepad too,” Sadie told Ellen before she could step away.

  “Okay,” Ellen said as she was walking in the direction of her room.

  Ellen was gone from the room for a short time before returning with the book—opened to the correct page—a notepad and a pencil.

  Once Ellen had stepped back into the room Sadie stood up. As she held out her hand for the items, she told Ellen, “I’ll work on this incantation in the dining room.”

  As Ellen went to hand Sadie the items, Devon asked, “Do you need any help?”

  As Sadie was taking the items, she replied, “Thanks for the offer, but when it comes to creating incantations, I work better alone and without an audience.”