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| Photo prompt courtesy of Tommy-Ironic |
The first time she saw them, she thought they were
ghosts. A second glance showed them to
be statues. The white sandstone made the
carved robes look like they flowed in the wind.
The noticeable vacancy underneath the sheets where people ought to have
been was slightly disturbing. How odd,
to have statues out here in the middle of no where. The nearest gas station was back at the
interstate turn off. The only thing out
this road was her widowed aunt’s old ranch house. She would have to ask her aunt about it.
Sitting in the kitchen with a pitcher of sweet tea, Jemma
decided to broach the subject with her aunt.
“Aunt May, when did those statues go up?”
“What statues dear?” asked Aunt May, checking the cookies in
the oven.
“The set of statues about a half mile off your property on
the way from town. The creepy,
no-one-under-the-sheet ghost statues.”
Aunt May froze at the description. Straining for a natural voice, she responded,
“How many statues were there?” Managing
to remove the cookie tray from the oven without burning herself, she thought
furiously. She didn’t think they would
be able to find her here. She thought
she had lost them when she married and changed her name. Also living in the back end of no where with
the cows the only ones who got a good look at her on a regular basis should
have helped.
Jemma thought this was a strange question. “I don’t know, around eight I think. Haven’t you seen them on your way into town? Are they new?”
“They are new and you know I don’t go in unless I absolutely
have to. Most of what I need I can grow
out here, even without your uncle, may he find peace.” Aunt May never referenced God, even in
wishing her husband’s soul well. Jemma
wondered why that was, but today had enough mysteries, that one would have to
wait. Right now, Jemma wanted to know
how statues had upset her aunt so badly her normally peaches and cream coloring
had faded to a pale grey.
Aunt May could not for the life of her figure out how to get
out of this. If they found her here,
they would be able to find her anywhere she might run. Looking at Jemma, she decided she would not
bring them down on her family. The only
way to stop them was to let them find what they were looking for. With one more trick up her sleeve, she may be
able to stop them permanently.
“Jemma, be a dear and fetch my big book from the living
room, would you?” Now Jemma was really
worried. She remembered that book, a
leather-bound monstrosity that she could barely lift when she spent the summer
with her aunt and uncle at 8 years old.
That summer made her think her family wasn’t as typical as she had
thought. No one else’s aunt drew shapes
on the counter in salt or burned perfectly good herbs. No one else’s uncle saved blood when they
slaughtered animals on the farm. Never
had she seen anyone use such an old, thick, leather-bound book on a regular
basis. Her aunt hadn’t used the book in
front of Jemma since she had shouted that she didn’t want to be part of a
witch’s family in a fit of teen rage. Jemma thought Aunt May had given it up for
good after her husband died.
Jemma set the book on the counter next to ingredients her
aunt had been pulling from the cabinets in her absence.
“Jemma, I need you to do one last favor for me.” The sadness in Aunt May’s voice implied it
would be the last favor Jemma ever did for her aunt. “After I copy the page I need, I want you to
take the book to the diner in town. I’m
going to call a friend and have them pick the book up from you. Will you do that for me?”
Jemma didn’t want to leave her aunt alone in this condition,
but just as clearly she wanted space for whatever she was going to do. She agreed.
Aunt May handed her the book and added an envelope she said held money
for supper. When Jemma protested, Aunt
May simply said, “You are running into town as a favor to me, the least I can
do is pay for food.”
Jemma turned her car around and headed back the way she
came, passing the statues that seemed creepier now. Their shadows elongated as the sun started its
decent to the west. The jacket her aunt
had pressed on her as she was leaving lay on top of the book in the passenger
seat. Jemma didn’t think it would get
cool enough to worry about a jacket tonight, even if she stayed out late, but
as with many other things, it was just easier to agree than to argue such a
small point.
Upon reaching the diner, Jemma decided the book would be
safe in the car as long as she locked it.
Grabbing the jacket, just in case, she headed into the diner.
***
May only had one chance.
They wouldn’t suspect they had been seen, after all, the only one in the
car was a mere human. May knew
better. Her niece the witch, even
untrained and resisting, had been able to spot them clear as day. May was so proud of that girl. She hoped what she did here would keep her
safe. At least if she failed, her niece
had the book. She could protect herself
with it while keeping it out of their hands.
Heading out to the edge of her property, she called up the
years of protection spells she and her husband and poured into the land since
the first night they spent in their new home.
Hoping to finish before sunset released them, she hurried in her
preparations. She finished with minutes
to spare. Nothing left to do but wait.
The sun slipped behind the mountain. No longer needing the protection, eight black
skeletal creatures cast off their daytime coverings. Sand flew as the covers dissolved in the wake
of the creatures sprinting into the night, seeking their prey.
A series of screams split the night, warning May of the
monsters’ approach. With a silence that
made her hair stand on end, May saw her preparations come into play in a rush
of blue light, creating a half sphere around her and the 8 demons. One of them, probably the leader, paused,
sensing a trap, but it was too late. May
stood and with an effort to steady a voice shaking in fear she spoke her final
words, “So mote it be.”
***
A bright blue white light flashed across the valley. Jemma thought she might have been imagining
things when she saw a golden light respond from every seam in the jacket she
had donned when entering the chilly diner.
No one else seemed to notice anything.
Everyone ate and drank and carried on as if the valley hadn’t just been
lit up like a Christmas tree.
Deciding an hour was more than reasonable time to wait for a
friend to come get the book, Jemma reached for the envelope to pay for
supper. Opening it surprised her. Inside she found a letter an a stack of
hundred dollar bills. Leaving the bills
in the envelope, she pulled the letter open and read:
Darling Jemma,
I want to apologize for sending you on
a false errand. I needed you to be
safely gone with the book before they came.
You did not see statues, but demons’
day forms when you came to visit me today.
I fought them when I was young, and made enemies among them, before I
ever met your uncle. I loved him enough
to hide from the demons rather than fight them.
I suppose I got that, a quiet life filled with love and laughter by your
uncle’s side. And I got to know you.
I would explain everything to you, but
time runs short. I must get you away
before they come. You need to know, you
have a gift. You can see what other
cannot and protect them from evils they do not know. The book will help you.
If I succeed tonight, you will see a
flash of light as the demons are destroyed, taking me with them. Regardless of my success or failure, you are
no longer safe here. Take the book, the
coat, and the money and run. This is all
I can do for you now. I love you
forever.
Blessed be,
Aunt May
Jemma folded the letter up and tucked it into an inside
pocket of the coat her aunt had made sure to give her as a final parting
gift. Leaving some money on the table
for the meal, she headed back to the car.
She wondered how long it would take to get to the airport.
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