The Coven’s Curseby Clyde Andrews |
Table of Contents Part 1 appears in this issue. |
| Part 2 of 3 |
“There’s no time, Mandy. It’s 6:30 now. By the time we went and got L.J.P. it might be too late. Didn’t you see what the message said? By 7:00 or he gets it. Besides, we can handle it, we’re magicians, too.”
Mandy frowned. “I understand. But we are not ready to come up against a magician — if it is one like we suspect — I am only just learning to use my powers. And you, well, what can you do?
James hesitated. “I can... only conjure up a... glass of water,” James said rather embarrassed. He wished right there and then that he had spent more time working on his magic while L.J.P. was away instead of trying to beat the track record on his newest Xbox game.
Mandy did not reply. She just held onto him.
“Say, how about I text them?” James piped up. “I’ll let them know where we’re going so that they can meet us there. Will that be all right, Mandy?”
She reluctantly nodded. “I suppose so. But I’m not so sure about all this, James.”
“We’ll assess the situation first... I’m sure it’s just some tosser playing a prank. We’ll get there and I bet you that the place will be deserted.”
Mandy looked up to James. “I do hope you’re right.”
* * *
The Priest looked at his new disciple and smiled warmly. He was holding him about the shoulder. Showing him off to the Coven. Will was dressed in a gown, white and reminiscent of a choir boy’s outfit.
“Brothers, today I give you our latest recruit, one William Clark,” he said, his voice booming in the makeshift church by the docks. “He is a fine lad. A beautiful lad. And he will bring us more followers into our fold. He will be the means by which we will expand our faith. The means by which we will be triumphant in this place,” the priest said, now patting Will tenderly on his head. Will just smiled.
The others, gathered about the priest, began to murmur and whisper. But they were whispers of agreement. They seemed to like what the Priest was saying to them.
One, however, spoke up. “But he is only a mortal. What good will he be to us besides your pleasure?”
The Priest looked at him. A look that could curdle milk. “He has powerful friends. Friends that will become one with us or suffer the consequences. They will, or they will forever be cursed by us. That, my friend, is what he is good for.”
There was then a wave of agreement. Unanimous throughout the gathering.
“Now that that is sorted out, my friends, it is time to get on with business. Time to see that we, the Coven, will be secure in our future. To make sure our faith is preserved against a rising sea of heresy,” he said, now raising his arms high as he delivered his oration. “Tonight, with the help of this boy’s friends, we will summon our Lord: the great Demon. And the true leader of our religion.”
* * *
L.J.P. smiled at Mrs. Walters as she sat down next to him, a piping hot cappuccino in hand.
“I do like airport coffee, don’t you?” Mrs. Walters smiled.
L.J.P.’s lips quivered. “Um, yeah... It’s all right, I suppose.” He then scooped extra sugar into his beverage. It was four large heaps later, before he was satisfied with the taste.
“I see you’re just being polite,” Mrs. Walters said. “I would bet you’ve always been the polite one.”
“Courtesy is the glue of society, my dear.”
“On second thought — I bet, if you really thought about it — I’d bet that even you, Doctor had been a little mischievous in your youth.”
“I would have to think hard indeed, I’m sure,” L.J.P. chuckled.
“Oh, L.J.P. what am I going to do with you? I just think that the world needs more like you... I don’t think I ever thanked you properly for saving my daughter, and myself, from the coven.”
L.J.P. rubbed his goatee. “It sounds like it may not be over yet. The coven is obviously still functioning. And you’re right.”
“Right about what?”
“I was somewhat of a little tear-away in my youth.”
Mrs. Walters shifted her weight on her cane chair. “Do tell,” she said with a gleam in her eye.
“There’s not really much to tell,” L.J.P. began, pushing up his glasses. “But after magolescence, and the fact that I had to get my head around igniting everything for two weeks straight. I was quite the cheeky one. Nothing serious, just practical jokes really, my dear.” L.J.P. took another sip from his coffee.
“Go on,” Mrs. Walters said. Hanging on every word.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
She smiled, then nodded.
“Okay, okay,” L.J.P. laughed. “My favourite little prank was one I used against my best friend, Fred Wallows. He always fell for it too, the poor fellow-” “What was it? What was it?”
Just then L.J.P.’s phone beeped: James’s SMS had arrived.
L.J.P. frowned as he read. “Looks like we’ll have to continue this later... Read this!”
* * *
James and Mandy arrived at the Docklands with ten minutes to spare. Building seventeen, they noticed, was near a container loading facility.
“This place would be a perfect place to hide if there ever was one,” Mandy said.
“Look, don’t worry... See, so far so good,” James said as he clambered off his BMX.
Mandy looked up to the heavens. “We haven’t even done anything yet. Wait until we see what’s going on before you declare victory... all right?”
“All right,” James sighed. “I’m just trying to remain positive.”
“Yeah, great. I must be out of my mind doing this-”
“I said I’ll be okay... probably just some prankster sending those messages.”
“We’ll soon find out.”
They approached the dark, ominous building labelled number seventeen.
“Welcome, James... Mandy. What took you so long?”
“WILL!” Mandy and James said in unison.
Will just smiled. A smile that looked distant and cold.
“What are you doing here?” Mandy said. She then saw, from the open hangar-like doorway, a man dressed as a priest come into view. “Oh, I see,” she added.
“You’re not, Will — well, you are... but-”
“James, he’s possessed... LOOK!”
Just then the priest clicked his fingers. From behind barrels and boxes poured his henchmen. James and Mandy were surrounded.
“Two little piggies caught all alone... My, my, how foolish you are,” the priest sneered. “No matter, I now have more bait for my trap.”
“What trap?” James snapped.
“The trap I have been planning for months. The trap that will see the end of that meddling magician, L.J.P., my handsome lad.”
* * *
“How could they be so silly, Mr. Walters?... How?”
“I suppose because they are young they do not know what could be involved.”
“What could be involved?” L.J.P. said. “My dear, trouble is what could be involved that’s what. And I have a feeling that they have marched themselves right into it.”
“Quick, get into my car... there is no time to lose.”
Mrs. Walters looked at L.J.P. with concerned eyes. “You want me to get into that death trap?”
L.J.P. returned the look. He, however, could not see the reason for her concern. “Why, yes.”
“Are you sure it even goes properly... I mean, does it even have air-conditioning?”
L.J.P. nodded. “Of course it does, the window winder works perfectly,” he patted the bonnet gently. “This old girl has never let me down... Too much.”
Mrs. Walters still did not look convinced by L.J.P.’s words. She, however, wanted to go with L.J.P. and therefore had no choice but to ride with him.
“You leave me no choice then,” she said, verbalising her thoughts.
“That’s the spirit,” L.J.P. smiled. “Now, let’s get these kids out of mischief before it’s too late.”
After four attempts, the engine of L.J.P.’s Corolla finally fired up. Mrs. Walters just sat in the passenger seat looking somewhat perplexed as to why a doctor of L.J.P.’s standing would even have such a beat-up old car like this. Most doctors she knew drove Jaguars and Porsches. She sighed.
L.J.P.’s car only got them as far as the air-port turn-off.
“You were saying about how ‘this old girl’ never lets you down... Mmm,” Mrs. Walters said, clearly unimpressed.
“Only a minor set back, my dear... Nothing that can’t be fixed,” he said as he rummaged through the glove box.
“You know a little about mechanics, as well?” Mrs. Walters said with genuine surprise.
“Oh, no, technology is quite beyond me, I’m afraid. I always use this,” he added, pulling his mobile phone from the clutter of papers and maps that crowded his glove box.
“Calling for help, you mean?”
“The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria is number one on my speed dial, my dear,” he chuckled. “I’d better get out and wait... care to join me?”
As L.J.P. and Mrs. Walters exited the vehicle, another car suddenly pulled in front of them.
“Sabrina!” L.J.P. said as he saw the stewardess carefully step out of her car. She was still wearing her uniform.
“I thought it was you, L.J.P.,” she smiled. “Need any help?”
“We do seem to be in a spot of bother, my dear. But what can you do?... I’ve already called RACV.”
Sabrina came around to the front of L.J.P.’s vehicle. “Can you pop open the bonnet for me please, dearest?”
L.J.P. raised his eyebrows, now more than curious. He, however, did as she instructed.
“Oh, I see your problem... Your fan belt is broken-”
“It is?”
“Yes... but nothing that can’t be fixed easily.” She then began to take off her tights. Right there, right on the side of the road and right in front of not only them, but all and sundry that passed by this busy turn-off. L.J.P. could do nothing but smile like a school boy as he watched her work. He certainly admired her spunk.
“There you go... it’ll get you where you want to go,” she grinned triumphantly. “But please, get a new fan belt as soon as you can, okay dearest?”
L.J.P. was still stunned, but managed: “What do I owe you for such a favour?”
“Nothin’, it was my pleasure.”
“How about... dinner... sometime,” L.J.P. said slowly. Finding the words difficult to get out. Which frustrated him. He would have thought asking a girl out would get easier with age. He was wrong.
“What about your wife?” Sabrina said glancing to Mrs. Walters casually.
L.J.P. had forgotten about Mrs. Walters. She, however, was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle and decided to come to L.J.P.’s rescue. “I’m not his wife. We’re just friends, that’s all.”
Sabrina smiled. “You’re on then.”
After they had exchanged the relevant information, giggling together all the while, L.J.P. and Mrs. Walters were back on the road.
“You really do need a better car, L.J.P.,” Mrs. Walters said as they headed off.
“Why is that, my dear? It looks like I’m now going out with a rather attractive stewardess that knows a thing or two about mechanics.”
Mrs. Walters sighed again. But her sigh was not one of being fed up. It was one that expressed her joy for L.J.P., even though he was determined to keep this broken-down old rust bucket.
“Besides,” L.J.P. added, “I’m a loyal ol’ dog when it comes down to it. I just couldn’t part with it.”
Mrs. Walters nodded. Sabrina was a lucky lady.
* * *
James must have blacked out, for when he woke his hands were bound. He was also, to make matters worse, trapped in a cage suspended from the ceiling of what looked like a church. He noticed that Mandy was with him. At least he knew where she was.
“What took you so long to wake up?” Mandy snapped.
“What do you mean?” James said, still dazed and confused. “How long was I out?”
“Long enough,” Mandy added. “Now help me get out of here. It’s what I feared.”
“What’s what you feared?”
“Oh, please, James, don’t be silly. Not now. The Coven... This is the Coven... and they have us trapped as well as, Will. Take a look below us.”
James looked. What he saw was his best mate Will — that was not in dispute — but what he was doing made his skin crawl. Will was a willing participant in whatever it was this Priest and his followers were up to. He noticed Will placing candles onto each point of an upside-down pentacle, laughing and joking with the members of the Coven as he did so. He even laughed with the man that looked like a Priest.
“Why would Will do such a thing?” James gasped, as he watched from above.
Copyright © 2006 by Clyde Andrews
