Prophesy: The Immortal Witch (22)

Part 21 at: https://www.abctales.com/story/marandina/prophesy-immortal-witch-21

 

Sea breezes brought the tang of salt and brine, a reticent sun duelling with cumulus clouds for exposure. On a mild summer day, clement temperatures encouraged people outdoors.

Danielle found herself at a loose end at home in the static. Tanya had gone out to meet a friend in town for lunch. It was reassuring that she was trusted to be on her own. It was taken as a compliment but that didn’t stop the feelings of ennui waiting for her mum to return. Despite having adjusted to being in a single-parent family, she missed the tight unit that came before although that was quite a while ago. She hadn’t forgotten. She missed her dad.

News of the incident in the library had filtered through. It was a shock that nobody saw coming. The assumption had been that, in time, the book of spells would be formally sold to the university. As to who would benefit from any windfall was not clear cut. It was the National Trust that owned the land that Brean Fort was situated on. This meant that, strictly speaking, it was the charity that owned the grimoire. Not that any of this was relevant now that it had been stolen.

Billy had confided that his dreams of spending large amounts of cash had been shattered. There were numerous PS5 games he could no longer afford as well as having to forego buying his mum something nice. It was agreed that the only solution was to find the thief.

For her part, Nadeem had given a description of the strange assailant to the police even if details were sketchy. The part with flickering lights, roaming skeletons and straw dolls had been omitted. Her reputation was at stake and she wasn’t going to jeopardise that. Instead, elements of the occult had been air-brushed out so that, as far as the authorities were concerned, she had been the victim of chloroform poisoning resulting in her security pass being taken. Notwithstanding, this sanitised version of events came with risk as there were plenty of potential witnesses who would also have experienced the outer-worldly glitches and supernatural shenanigans from that night. The professor would cross that bridge if and when she came to it.

Danielle’s sobering reverie was broken by a message pinging on her mobile. Assuming it was from her mother, she peered at the screen wondering what it was about. Instead, the message was from Billy. At first, she couldn’t remember exchanging numbers before the memory of an awkward moment after the presentation from the professor and vicar came flooding back. They had been saying goodbye outside the caravan. Realising that everyone else had either left or returned inside, the two of them had lingered whilst unsure of what to say next. The silence had been broken by Billy suggesting that they stay connected via their mobiles.

@ Uphill if u wanna meet up 2day.

A mental image of beautiful Uphill was conjured. It was quite a walk from Brean Sands across fields and pasture land to the destination. Danielle pondered what to do. Her mum wouldn’t be back for at least another couple of hours and she could always leave a note. This boy brought a rebelliousness out of her.

Where in Uphill?

Three dots pulsed as a reply was being typed.

St Nick’s church. There now. With my mum.

Danielle had become totally invested in this lad from Brum. Still not completely sure, she found herself committed yet again to spending more time with him. The adventure on the mysterious island, the finding of the archaic volume, the weird back story that went with the grimoire and now the unnerving theft of their hard won artefact all added up to the most interesting summer break she could remember.

Her mum’s attitude towards Billy had hardened since the revelations made by the academic/venerable duo - Potter and Gleeson. It had been made clear afterwards that Tanya did not trust this oddball that had turned up out of the blue. She had demanded a promise from her daughter that she would distance herself from this bizarre young man. They had argued and, eventually, Danielle had run off to her bedroom crying. 

Thoughts were broken for a second time as a knock on the door sounded.

Her mind raced. They generally didn’t get visitors other than the postman delivering the odd bit of post. She could sense someone skulking down the side of the caravan before a face appeared at one of the windows. It was Sally Gleeson staring in with a flat palm at her forehead, her face pressed up against the polycarbonate bay window.

“Hello. It’s only Vicar Gleeson. Just wanted a word, Tanya.”

Relief poured through Danielle like a warm sauce coating a dinner. Padding across carpet, she popped her head out of the doorway.

“Hi Reverend. Mum’s gone out. She should be back later.”

The clergywoman sidled back around and planted herself a couple of feet away.

“Oh that’s perfectly alright, Danielle. Should you be on your own?”

The question was posed with a look of concern.

“It’s okay. I’m twelve soon. Mum trusts me.” Despite the confidence in the statement, it came with a sudden feeling of disquiet. It was hard to tell whether it was embarrassment at being discovered alone or something more innate that went with having an unexpected caller.  

“Besides, I’m going out in a minute.”

“Anywhere nice? It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?”

Danielle was unsure as to whether to disclose her plans. She really didn’t know where the feeling of uncertainty was stemming from. She decided to just blurt it out and hope for the best. Surely this conversation would end shortly.

“I’m meeting Billy in Uphill. At the church on the hill.”

“Oh how lovely. That’s a bit of a trek from here. Too far to walk, I’m afraid.” At this, Danielle tried and failed to silently calculate the distance involved.

“Look…I’m in the car. I could drop you down there. I’m sure your mum wouldn’t object.”

That feeling of uneasiness again.

“Shall we contact your mother if that makes you feel better?”

Danielle recalled the row over Billy and quickly decided against the idea.

“No…no…it’s fine. Yes, if it’s not out of your way. Thank you, reverend.”

“Oh…please call me Sally. You are such a polite young lady. I take it you have a key to lock up with?”

Fumbling in trouser pockets, a latchkey was produced.

“Righteo…I suggest you secure the premises and then we can have a stroll to my waiting chariot.”

As she locked the caravan door behind her, Danielle noted how quiet it was. Nobody would notice her leaving with, to all intents and purposes, a stranger. Again a sense of insecurity gnawing at her like a persistent beaver making a tenebrous dam.

Gleeson’s Mini Clubman was parked in a dirt layby that delineated a worn asphalt thoroughfare from a hedgerow that bordered the row of mobile homes on Brean beach. It was a short walk along a gravel pathway, a soft crunching noise made by their shoes.

“Is it okay if I sit in the back?” Danielle asked apprehensively.

For a moment, the clergywoman looked nonplussed before courteously opening a passenger door and standing back to allow her passenger room to squeeze in and take a seat, ushering the youngster in like a paid valet.

Starting the ignition, an engine roared into life, the car smoothly pulling out into the road.

“Where to, guv?” Danielle saw a smile beaming back, the driver twisting around to face her, one hand on the steering wheel, the other on the gear stick. Acknowledging the humour, she grinned whilst remaining wordless, accepting the rhetorical nature of the question.

The route would take them through Lympsham and Bleadon, an 8-mile trek by motor.

Approaching Berrow, the cleric found herself feeling queasy. A barely perceptible tremor ran through her, sweat forming on her brow. She pondered what she had eaten last. Whatever it was, a headache was coming as well.

In her peripheral vision, something moving. Something that didn’t belong there.

She glanced up at the rear view mirror. Where there should have been beech trees, thickets and the occasional sequence of houses getting smaller as they faded into the distance, instead, a rolling fog was filling the void. Glaring into the glass, she was taken aback by something incorporeal breaking through the mist.

She flinched then blinked in a desperate attempt to make sense of what was happening.

Looking closer, it was a pair of disembodied yellow eyes emerging, slits for pupils making them look surreal and ominous. It would have put her in mind of a macabre version of the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland fading into sight on any other day if it wasn’t so intimidating.

Vicar Gleeson, I know you can hear me.

Half-turning, she sense-checked to see whether the child on the backseat had picked up on the woman’s voice emanating from inside the car.

It’s okay, she can’t hear me. This is between me and you, dear lady.

Her head was starting to feel odd. Like a drifting sensation. That connection with reality being blurred. Thoughts no longer her own. Something taking over. There was little she could do about it. Within seconds Gleeson had been mesmerised like a willing stooge in a stage act.

You will bring the girl to me. I will guide you. Just let yourself go. Immerse yourself, dear vicar.

Movement was involuntary, thought processes determined by an invisible force.

Such a useful helper.

Instead of taking the turn towards Lympsham they carried straight on, Danielle oblivious to the detour.

They were now heading towards Burnham-on-Sea where a terraced house with an eager ancient occupant was waiting.

 

Part 23 at: https://www.abctales.com/story/marandina/prophesy-immortal-witch-23

 

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