Witch Girl: Prologue

                                                          
                                                               Prologue

                                                            Memphis, 2001

               Selena Hall spent the afternoon looking into her mirror.  What spell could she cast that would bring love into her life.  The mirror gave no response, so she decided to go online.  Yep, plenty of love spells.  "This one looks great," she thought.  No time like the present.

               She had to gather the materials for the spell.  Rosemary oil, rose petals, lavender, spring water, and a handheld mirror.  The spell had to be cast at night under a full moon.  She had to stand outside, “skyclad,” (otherwise known as naked) under the moon and ask the goddess to send her the man of her dreams.  And she'd had one beautiful man in her dreams for as long as she could remember.  Tall, with dark hair and a chiseled face.  His skin wasn't dark, more like alabaster.  She could see his warm brown eyes staring into her heart when she dreamed of him.  It was as if he was right in front of her and she could reach out and touch a lock of his silky hair.  He seemed to know her heart.  When their eyes met, her heart would leap into her throat.  Yes, she needed this spell to work.  She'd been looking for this man everywhere since she was a young girl.  He never seemed to materialize. 

               Sometimes she would date guys who reminded her of him, but they never were the one.  Somehow she knew that this guy's kisses would bring her to her knees.  One boyfriend got close, but he was too shallow for her. He also had a roving eye, which she didn't really appreciate too much.  Not that she wasn't always checking out the guys around her while he was looking at the pretty blonds.  Turn about was fair play, but it didn't mean she appreciated his wandering eye.  What was good for the goose didn't necessarily mean it was good for the gander, so to speak.

               So she went about her week knowing she had this spell ready to go.  She had been practicing the words  and rereading the directions.  This was a spell that had to work.  He was out there. She knew it in her bones, but he hadn't materialized in her life yet.  She was 33, not old, but no longer in her 20's.  She had a career as an art teacher at the local high school, which she loved.  Being creative was something that helped her with her spells.  She could visualize things when others couldn't.  She knew his face.  She knew she could keep it in her mind's eye as she performed her spell.  Yes this would work.  She wouldn't let anything stop her, even being skyclad in the middle of a city.

                She was working on that too.  She lived in Midtown, a very hip part of Memphis.  No one would probably even notice the naked girl in the back of the small house she rented in the Cooper-Young district. She, luckily, had a fenced in backyard.

               The moon would be at it's fullest.  She'd checked the farmers almanac just to be sure.  Friday night would be the test of her abilities.  It would be a little chilly, since it was mid-September, but finally bringing "Him" into her life was worth the chill bumps and the chance of being charged with indecent exposure.

               Friday night came.  Selena was a little nervous.  She didn't make a habit of wandering around naked in her backyard, even if the fence was wooden and no one could see through it.  She checked the directions of the spell again.  She reread the words, and made sure she had everything the spell required. 

               Normally, when Selena performed a spell, she wrote the spell herself.  She had performed spells for more money and happiness in her relationships with others.  Especially for her job.  The teenagers were great, but the faculty and administration were not always kind to her.  Patience only went so far.

               Once she was sure she was ready, she undressed and put on a robe.  No need to walk outside naked, only stand skyclad in her circle under the moon once she began the ritual. 

               With everything on the ground in front of her, Selena dropped her robe to the ground.  Standing with the moon kissing her skin, she began to invite the four elements to come and help her create her circle.  Holding her althame, the knife she had ordered from an online Wicca supply company, in her right hand, she invited the north, the east the south and the west to bring their powers of earth, air, fire, and water to join their energies to hers.  Once she felt the tingle of the energies around her, she knelt in front of her makeshift alter and closed her eyes.  She visualized the man she had dreamed of for so many years.  Holding his image in her head, she recited the incantation aloud.  She had practiced the words many times, so they came quickly to her lips.  This allowed her to keep his image in her mind's eye.  After reciting the spell, she opened her eyes, stood and then closed the circle releasing the energies into the ethers.  “And it harm none, so mote it be.”

               All of a sudden she felt as if all of her own energy had fled with the release of her spell.  She fell back to the ground and panted.  She laid there for about five minutes regaining her strength.  And so it was done.  “Let the love spell work!  Bring the man to me!” she said, then rose, brushed herself off and putting on her robe, she went back into her house to wait.

September 1435

                                                                                                                                                                          Keiran sat on the dais and played his lute for the Laird.  He was a talented harpest, or so everyone said.  He enjoyed the string instrument and singing about lady love and battles.  Tonight he had the eye of a lovely lady who had come to court with her family.  He didn't know her name, but he enjoyed having her watch him as he played.  Tonight he strummed with passion, as if it was her body he was strumming.  The dreamy eyed look he sent her made her visibly shiver. Yes, he had her.  A couple more hours and the night would be his to seek her out in a dark hallway.  He knew she'd be willing.  Her eyes never left him.  He could feel them from across the big hall.  He sent her looks that smoldered and told her he wanted to get to know her better.  Just a few more songs, then he'd take a break and slip away into the hallway.  He'd tell her to follow with his eyes, and wait patiently for her.  She'd come.  He knew she would.  Then maybe later he'd love her and hold her through the night.  Then he'd slip away quietly.  After all,  he had to travel to the next hall.  He always moved around.  He didn't stay long, just a few nights.  He made love to beautiful women, then he left before their fathers, brothers or guardians were aware he'd been with them.  It was his life, and he liked it this way.  No commitments.  Just freedom to play his music and love women.  He had enough coin to make it a comfortable living.  He had food and lodging in return for these services.  A nice existence, indeed.

               After he finished singing his epic about a maiden who had fallen for the king's knight, and ran away with him, only to be caught and drug back to the castle while her love died from  the king's sword. A song which left many with tears in their eyes, he stood and bowed to the laird.  The laird nodded his head in appreciation, and told everyone he was off for bed, and they might want to find their own.  Kieran thanked the laird for his hospitality, bowed, then left the dais.  He turned to the lovely lady and smiled.  His eyes moving toward the hallway and back to hers in signal.  All he had to do now was wait patiently. 

               It wasn't long before he heard the rustle of long skirts hurrying through the dark hall.  He stood against the wall and grabbed her as she past.  She let out a small squeal, which he quickly covered with his mouth.  She was warm and lively in his arms, and tasted of watered wine. Ambrosia.  He took her hand and began leading her to the chamber below stairs that the laird had granted him for the last few evenings.  She held his hand and followed without resistance.  Yes, tonight he'd have this lovely woman, and leave before the sun would rise in the morning.

               But something was happening.  Her hand began to feel less solid in his.  The light was dim, but he found that he couldn't see her a well as he could a few minutes before.  She stopped.  Her mouth began to open.  He could see that she was screaming, but he couldn't hear her voice.  He was fading.  And then he felt nothing.