The Coven’s Curse by Clyde Andrews	Table of Contents “Awakening” appeared in issue 176.
Part 1 of 3

Audio version by the author

James’s mobile beeped, startling him from his magical study. He had a nice new stick of chalk in hand and was practicing drawing magic circles on paper. Trying to make glasses of water appear from nothing, with somewhat mixed results.

First only water appeared, then just the glass. He just could not get the formula right to put the two together, no matter how hard he tried.

He smiled at the distraction. He was beginning to get a headache from all the concentration. Besides, he’d had to change three times already: conjuring up water without something to hold it in was getting very messy.

He scratched his head. “Perhaps I should try conjuring up some fruit,” he chuckled to himself.

He looked at his mobile. The message read: “WE HAV HIM. B READY 4 US.” James looked puzzled. ‘What the heck did that mean?’ he thought.

He then glanced down to the book L.J.P. had lent him: Real Magic for Dummies. He sighed. He really hadn’t progressed very far in the three hours since he started: the glass of water trick was only lesson one.

“L.J.P. is gonna be mad when he sees I haven’t been doing my magical homework,” he whispered to himself, again scratching his head. “And he will be back from his holiday tomorrow, too.”

James decided to give it one more try before bed. Once he had completed the formula, numeral for numeral and letter for letter on the paper, a glass of water, thankfully, appeared just as it was supposed to. James sighed with relief, then smiled, pleased with his accomplishment and thankful he could now move on to lesson two: making the glass of water disappear.

* * *

L.J.P. tried all he could to get comfortable in his state-of-the-art ‘economy class’ airline seat, to no avail. He wiggled and twisted, but the damn thing just did not feel right. Maybe it was the extra lumbar support cushions or something. But living a lifetime in normal chairs had unprepared him for this seat.

In the end he gave up and looked at what entertainment was available. It was a flight he had promised himself years ago he would take. His sister kept on at him that he should visit. L.J.P. smiled, he was actually thankful he had done so. He had actually ended up enjoying his time away from his usual life in Melbourne.

The plane had only just left Heathrow, and he had a long way to go yet. With a sigh he decided he needed something to pass the time. He concluded that the movies were not to his liking. All just flashy special effects films with no story line. So he looked at the music selection. One title stuck out amongst the surprisingly long list. It was the Beatles White Album. L.J.P. smiled, he never usually listened to pop music, but he did like some of the tunes on occasion. He pressed the call button.

Almost immediately the rather attractive senior stewardess arrived at L.J.P.’s seat. “Yes, sir, how can I help you?”

“Yes, my dear, I would like to listen to some music. Can I have some headphones, please?”

“Sure thing. That will be two dollars, thank you,” she smiled.

L.J.P. let out a guffaw. “They charge for everything these days, don’t they, my dear? I suppose they have to pay for these damn chairs somehow.”

He received the headphones after she quickly fetched them from a compartment at the front of the plane.

Placing the headphones on, and then adjusting them several times because they just did not fit right, he then pressed the required buttons to bring up the music he wished for.

L.J.P. leaned back, tried to relax and then just listen. What he heard, however, was not ‘Back in the U.S.S.R.’ Instead, the music was jumbled. In fact it sounded like it was being played backwards. All he could hear besides weird noises was: “The Priest will conquer all... The Priest will torture all unbelievers... The Priest will rule...”

And it just went on like that. L.J.P. ripped off the headphones and immediately pressed the call button again.

The stewardess was upon him within moments smiling like a plastic barbie doll. “Yes, sir.”

“Oh, um... I think there is something wrong with your... music thingy, dear,” L.J.P. seemed a little embarrassed at having to call her over for something so trivial.

“The headphones not working properly, sir?” she said with polite professionalism.

“No, no, they’re fine. It’s the music. It seems to be playing backwards!” he said with raised eyebrows “And there seems to be some sort of message being played on the backwards track,” L.J.P. managed a smile, for as he said it he realised it sounded ridiculous.

“What music were you listening to, sir?”

“The Beatles... Their White Album.”

The stewardess smiled warmly. “The Beatles White Album has always had a message on it when played backwards.”

Now L.J.P. smiled. “Yes, yes, I know. But it usually has something about Paul McCartney being dead on it. But this message was completely different, my dear.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, you can see my dilemma. I think there is something wrong,” L.J.P. said, concern evident on face.

“There certainly is something wrong, because we don’t have the White Album in our music directory. I thought it was your own C.D.,” she said. “That is until I noticed your headphones attached to the armchair console.”

L.J.P. was now convinced it was an omen, for when he re-checked the directory it was true. The White Album was not there. “Oh, silly me, I must be listening to some modern rock tune the kids like, thinking I saw the White Album on the list. My mistake — I had better get my spectacles seen to. Sorry to bother you, dear.”

“Oh that’s fine, sir,” she smiled again.

“You can call me, L.J.P.”

“L.J.P., how cute! You can call me, Sabrina.”

“Sabrina! What an enchanting name.”

Sabrina blushed a little. “You men are always the charmers, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but if something did actually eventuate from our charms, I’m sure we’d run a mile.”

“I know. That’s why you’re all so darn cute. Anyhow, I had better get back. Any more problems don’t hesitate to press my button.”

L.J.P. laughed out loud.

* * *

Qantas flight: QF 252 arrived at Tullamarine on schedule, much to L.J.P.’s pleasure. Sure, he had enjoyed the flight, mainly because of Sabrina. But he was glad to be off the plane, just so he could take off the damn compression socks. He wore them to ward against the onset of deep vein thrombosis. But the socks were a killer after twenty hours or so in the air. L.J.P. couldn’t even imagine how women wore tights or stockings all day.

As he stepped off the flight his mobile beeped. L.J.P. frowned, he could never work out how to retrieve a message. And he wished someone like Sabrina was here right now to help him.

After fiddling for a while L.J.P. finally saw it. It read: “WE HAVE HIM. B READY 4 US. THE PRIEST IS ALL POWERFUL.”

L.J.P. raised an eyebrow and then muttered something incoherent as he tried to turn off his mobile phone.

* * *

Will tried to struggle in the bonds he was forced into. He could not remember how he had beeen abducted, all he knew was he had been tied up for what seemed an eternity.

The ropes burned and tightened as he struggled. It was hopeless, but he was still determined to get free. No matter what.

The room was pitch dark, but he knew, even though he could not see, that there was suddenly someone with him. He could almost feel a glaring stare. He struggled some more, desperate now to get out of this situation.

“It’s no use struggling, my boy,” a sinister male voice said, a voice that was also smooth as velvet and seemed to reverberate though the darkness.

“What do you want from me?” Will blurted out. He knew he was secured to a bed, he could hear the springs creek and groan as he tried to free himself.

“Patience, my boy. You will find out,” the voice added.

Just then Will felt someone sit beside him. The pungent smell of incense and old spice suddenly overwhelming him.

“Keep... away... f-from m-me,” Will stuttered.

“Now, why would I do that?” the voice said, touching Will gently on his knee. “Besides, you are going to be a very important part of my plan, my boy.”

“You’re sick!” Will spat. “Just wait and see what happens to you when, L.J.P. and my friends find me. You’ll... you’ll be sorry, jerk!”

Will could hear the man chuckle quietly to himself. “That is what I hope will happen, my boy,” he whispered into Will’s ear, getting ever so close that Will could feel his breath. “William Clark, see the light, come to the light, William Clark. Come here, come to me. I am your light...”

Will’s mind became cloudy as the man spoke those words. “What are you doing... to... me?”

The man continued. Moments later Will stopped struggling. He was under the voice’s control.

* * *

L.J.P. went to collect his luggage. Waiting for him in the baggage terminal was Mrs. Walters and Mandy.

“My, my this is a surprise,” L.J.P. said as he came down the escalator. “I wasn’t expecting a welcoming committee.”

“Oh, L.J.P. we’re glad you’re back,” Mandy said, running up to him and giving him a warm hug. By the way she held onto him he felt like she would never let go.

“Something tells me, besides the omens I have been getting, that something is up,” L.J.P. looked up to Mrs. Walters. She was standing there, a concerned look drawn across her face, her arms were even folded. “Yes, indeed, my dear. There is definitely something wrong, isn’t there?”

Mrs. Walters nodded. “So you have been getting the omens?”

“Yes,” L.J.P. said. “I’ve also just received a text message, too.”

“So did we.”

“I see. So who is the priest and, more importantly I suppose, my dears, who is the ‘him’ that he has?”

Mrs. Walters’ face flashed a pained expression. “I- we, think that the priest is the leader of... the Coven... that we were part of. But as for the ‘him’ we just don’t know at this stage.”

“Well, one thing is certain,” L.J.P. smiled, “this priest certainly wants our attention. I have never, ever been texted by a dark magician before. That’s certainly one for the books.”

“The Coven is powerful, L.J.P.” Mrs. Walters added, the strain in her voice suddenly becoming evident.

L.J.P. looked directly into her eyes. “So are we, my dear. So are we.”

Mandy finally let L.J.P. go. “I wonder if James has also been getting these messages?” she said.

“There’s only one way to find out,” Mrs. Walters said.

“I’ll go see him,” Mandy said with a knowing smile.

L.J.P. turned to Mrs. Walters. “Do you fancy a quick cuppa before we go, my dear?”

“Sure,” she smiled, “I would like that a lot.”

* * *

James opened his front door. Standing there was Mandy. Someone he was certainly pleased to see.

“I was just about to call you,” James said.

“You were?”

“Yeah. I’ve been getting weird messages all day,” James added.

“Funny you should mention that,” Mandy smiled. “That’s the reason I’m here.”

“Oh.”

“What do you mean, ‘oh’”

“I mean... I thought... Well, didn’t you-”

“James, don’t be silly. I’m here to see you, too.”

James sighed with relief, then smiled boyishly.

“Well, can I come in or are you going to leave me standing here?” “Um, yeah. Sure. Sorry. Where are my manners?” James blushed bright red as she passed him. “I actually received a message only a while ago. Here wanna read it?” James added, retrieving his mobile from his jeans pocket.

Mandy took it from him, pressing the key pad to light up the most recent message. It read: “WE HAV HIM. BETA COME QUICK OR HE WILL B MINE 4EVA.”

Mandy looked at James, concern etched on her face. “I have a bad feeling about this, James. It just does not sound right. My Mum thinks that it might be the Coven... they want us back.”

“I just-”

Just then the phone beeped again. Both of them looked at it as it was held in Mandy’s now trembling hand. This time the message read: “COME 2 DOCKS. BUILDING 14 BY 7. OR WILL B 2 LATE 4 HIM. THE PRIEST.”

There was a long silence between them as they stood in the hallway. All they could do was look at the message and wonder about it. Mandy just hoped it was all just a hoax, although she had a nasty feeling, right in the pit of her stomach that it was not. She hugged James. It was the only thing she could think of to do.

Finally James said: “We have to go to the docks and see who they have.”

“James, have you thought about this?” Mandy looked up to him. She looked right into his deep blue eyes. “Have you seriously thought about this. Shouldn’t we get L.J.P. and my Mum? I don’t know about you, but there is no way I am going alone. Seriously.”

Proceed to part 2...

Copyright © 2006 by Clyde Andrews