Though the magic aided Ann in removing the stones pressed upon Ester, it was not strong enough at the moment to move her body. Ann was able to lift her friend and carry her back to the relative safety of the thicket. There she covered Ester with the foliage as camouflage until she could formulate a plan to return them to Hillston. Just as the last of the flora was placed Ann snapped her head sharply to the right hearing something in the distance. She prayed that it wasn’t someone from the mob. She remained still for a moment until she was certain they were still safe tucked away in the thicket. Ann bowed her head and whispered what sounded like a prayer, stood, brushed off her knees from kneeling, and began to head south.
Ann knew the territory well though it had been many years since she last visited. Just over a mile from where she had hidden Ester was Ann’s childhood home where she had been raised by her aunts. The home appeared vacant and rundown, condemned even. However, as soon as she crossed the threshold of the garden candles in every window illuminated the country cottage as a dissipating glamour revealed that the home was warmly lived in and well maintained. “Aunties! Inesa! Gertrude! Hannah! Come quick I need your help!” Appearing in front of the hearth was a young woman who appeared to be only slightly older than Ann. “Darling girl its been ages since you’ve called on your aunties what in Heaven’s name brings you about now?” inquired Inesa. Ann explained about the Hillston storm, the portal Ester fell through, and the mob that attempted to kill her friend as a witch. “Oh dear, she wasn’t meant to discover this path...tell me young one what of her twin does he know about this time and place?” Ann shook her head. “Good, good then all that is to worry about is returning the girl to her present time with no memory of what has transpired. Warm yourself by the hearth and I’ll call upon my sisters.” Ann took no hesitation in following Inesa’s instructions to warm herself, though the facial expressions did nothing to hide her worry for Ester and the secret. As Inesa disappeared down a hallway that seemed to lengthen with every step there was a heavy knocking at the door. Mason had walked for miles not know where he was or how he came to be here. Wherever “here” is. Until he found what appeared to be an uninhabited cottage. He crossed the threshold of the garden and felt a shock run through his body; he stiffened at the feeling which left him uneasy. He was seeking shelter so if no one were to be home as it appeared empty he would sleep here for the night and continue his journey for answers in the morning. With no response he pushed upon the door which did not give, he tried again and still the door held. Maybe someone does live here and just isn’t home. Not wanting to break a door to a home that might actually be more than a crumbling pile of stone he took up shelter in the garden shed which appeared to be mostly empty aside from a few broken pots, spilled soil, a small spade, and pruning snips. Waiting out the night would not be comfortable, however he would be protected from the natural elements. Sitting on the soil covered shed floor with his back against the wall it only took a few minutes before his eyes closed, heavy from confusion and the physical exertion spend finding the cottage. Ann watched from the window as Mason turned from his efforts to open the door locked with iron padlocks from the inside along magical warding spells. As he settled into the shed she opened the window slightly and whispered an enchantment causing Somnus to find him quickly. “Thank you, Somnus. I owe you a favor in the future.” she whispered to the entity that brushed fine gold powder over Mason’s eyes drifting him into slumber, he would not wake until the aunts reversed the enchantment. About three hours after she had departed down the infinite hallway, Inesa returned with her sisters. Gertrude of average looks and stature welcomed Ann into a warm hug that reminded her of her mother’s. Hannah with wisps of gray hair in her brown wavy locks appeared behind the other two, the lines of her forehead pronounced as she was already deep in thought planning what the four of them might do about Ester. Before the women could greet Ann with words she informed them that whatever Hannah had already thought was now complicated with the arrival of Mason. “Tsk tsk, this will not do!” exclaimed Inesa. “There’s always a rock to stumble upon.” responded Gertrude. “Have faith, there is reason in this turn of events.” Hannah said as though she were clarifying a question. Ann and the other two women turned and looked at Hannah questioningly. She explained to them that Mason and Ester were to experience this time and place as though it were a dream like state and thus having called upon Somnus for his assistance fit right along with how things were to transpire; all that was needed, aside from retrieving the unconscious Ester from the thicket, would be to return them home.
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Ester's grip on her pencil was almost unbreakable as she scribbled in her notebook while concentrating on her book. She hadn't noticed the rest of her peers gather their stuff and exit the lecture hall. A middle aged, gruff looking, gentleman cleared his throat rather loudly. Still Ester kept her pace. "Miss Douglas, I'm locking the room now." No response. "I insist you leave!" he demanded, at that moment Ann Rhys appeared in the doorway. "Sorry Mr. Hayworth," Ann said without any real sense of regret as she walled past him, "I'll get her." "Its Doctor Hayworth," he retorted bluntly. Ann snapped Ester out of her working daze by packing her things for her. "Honestly Ester, everyone else was dying for Spring Break and you're still here studying?" she faked her surprise. Ester was always studious, a full blown nerd queen. As the girls were leaving Dr. Hayworth reminded Ester that she had an essay to complete over the break. "Actually Dr. Hayworth I submitted my essay two days ago, I guess you haven't had a chance to check your inbox." She replied with a smile. Ester although the ideal student was not Dr. Hayworth's favorite. Her work was turned in early each week, she read ahead in class, asked questions appropriate to the day's lesson though, but she had no need for educators as she taught herself and that is what got under Dr. Hayworth's skin. She was a student who didn't need instruction and was only going through the motions of attending school for her degree. He had always prided himself on helping his students grow but Ester always beat him to it. She had an appetite for knowledge that he couldn't help fill, not in the traditional settings of a college lecture hall. If he could ever get her attention for a moment he would offer her an internship abroad. The two girls waited in the plaza by the fountain for Ester's twin, Mason to finish his lessons for the day when an unexpected storm started rolling in. The sky darkened as thunder was heard miles away, lightening cracked across the sky while students all over campus ran to their cars or previously empty buildings, hardly anyone had an umbrella to keep dry. It hardly ever rained in Hillston, but when it did rain, it rained hard. As a thick fog added to the chaos the girls fumbled until they found an unlocked door and slipped inside for safety. Both and Ann and Ester tried calling and texting Mason to let him know where they could be found. At the moment they attempted every phone in the building sparked and ultimately fried, the sound of panic rose when the students dropped their ruined phones and the power shut off. A single student assistant in the building called out for everyone to remain calm and to stay where they were until the breaker could be tested or for an alternate light source to illuminate the darkness. Only a handful of students and workers were prepared with miniature flashlights on their key chains. These few left one light within the most crowded room and the others went in search of extra flashlights and candles from office cubical. Ann being one of the prepared students took Ester by the hand and began searching with the others. The other floors already had a volunteer for each so the girls headed to the basement. Like that isn't creepy at all, Ester thought to herself. "Honestly Ester it's fine no mastermind caused this freak storm so no one's waiting to murder us down here." Ann always picked up on Ester's feelings especially in unusual situations. The stairs were awkward to navigate but they reached the bottom safely and started their search in one of the storage rooms. This storage room was half janitorial supply closet and half damaged classroom furniture equipment. A slight moldy yet heavily dust covered scent assaulted their noses. Towards the back of the room there was an old crate with cylindrical looking objects that the two assumed had to be candles. Ready to leave the stench they hurried to the crate, but as luck would have it Ester tripped and went head first into damaged chalkboard behind the crate, still holding on to Ann she was taken down too. The blunt force trauma pain didn't set in on Ester, with her eyes closed expecting it any moment she heard Ann curse under her breath. Then the thud came, a wave of pain not only washed over her but seeped deeply into every bone of her body. Ann slipped something from her boot, that as the last thing Ester saw before blacking out. When she came to Ester first felt the warmth of a fire but the chill of the night. Remembering that they were in a storage room at the university before falling into the chalkboard Ester first thought that she was at home in front of the fireplace until a breeze brushed her her cheeks. She attempted to act upon her second thought, that the school had caught fire, but found she could not move. Her eyes were shut, her chest heavy, and her voice silent. She gasped for air as the weight proved to be too much as more was added. She heard chanting, wailing, protesting, and condemnation before losing consciousness once again. Ann waited, in the thicket until the crazed mob's torches could no longer be seen. Once the last family's torch dispersed from the clearing she rushed to the pile of rocks, casting them aside with ease through the assistance of her magic, a magic that Ester never knew about. If luck was on her side, Ester would not wake knowing about this place or the magic that saved her. Ester and Mason Douglas, college aged twins attending Hillston University located in the typically quiet, small town of Hillston, Texas. Ester is a studious bookworm and anti-social where as her brother Mason is Mr. Popular a linebacker for the football team and champion powerlifter. The twins have lived their lives as typical humans but a freak storm leads them on a journey to discover that there's a lot more to their heritage than what they have been taught.
Dr. Hayworth is Ester's British Literature professor he seems to be a strict educator however there's more to him than anyone knows and he keeps it under lock and key. Ann Rhys has been Ester's best friend since elementry school although she too is not an average college student but rather she's been sent to keep tabs on Ester and Mason. |
AuthorAnielle Kane resides in Katy, TX where she earns a living working as a middle school writing tutor while pursuing her teaching certification. She has taught 1 year of French and one year of 12 grade English (British Literature). Archives
December 2018
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