Hello once more, my fellow children of the night! You ghastly ghouls and cantankerous corpses gave us your votes and without further ado, let’s all give a big decaying and severed hand to the winner of our first short story contest….
Cohen and his story, Spiritus!
@Cohen congratulations! Feel free to collect your commemorative winner badge, if you dare 😉
And a massive thank you to all of our participants. Be sure to check out Illyrian, Ethan Reigns, and BuffyNvrForgets’s wonderful fiction. You guys rock!
Happy Halloween to you all, and enjoy the winning web of words spun by our weaver most wicked…
Spiritus
A single flicker of a match lit Willow’s face as she peered across the darkened field. She had been waiting for this night for months, ever since she stumbled across Ms. Calendar’s wicca files in the aftermath of her passing. She spent all summer learning about rituals and spells, everything she could immerse herself in about her new wicca craft.
As she dropped the match on the ceremonial pyre, she began reciting the words from the spiritual compendium she borrowed from the library. She had been studying this compendium for a while, and she found the perfect ritual to try tonight. Suddenly the fire burst wider and larger. Visions of ghostly apparitions swirled around her.
One spirit floated in front of her, a spirit Willow recognized from one of Giles’s books.
“L-lucy Hanover?” Willow asked.
“It is I, Willow Rosenberg,” the young female spirit responded. “This is a very dangerous and powerful ritual you are attempting, young witch. Especially on the night of a new moon during the time of Samhain. As a friend of Buffy Summers, you should know that.”
“Y-yes it is,” Willow started. “B-but I was hoping it w-would help.”
“Tonight, on the night of Samhain, the spirits along the Ghost Roads are looking for any opportunity to come back,” Lucy told her. “They cause mischief–and death. Where is the slayer?”
“W-well,” Willow began, looking around. “I-I didn’t know if it would w-work. S-so I m-may have forgotten to m-mention it to her.”
Lucy’s eyes darted around Willow. The hair on Willow’s neck began to rise.
“Willow Rosenberg, it is not safe here,” Lucy said. “What spirit were you looking for tonight?”
Willow reached into the bag and pulled out a shiny yellow disk.
“A friend,” Willow started. “S-she passed away, and I n-never got to tell her goodbye. A-and thank you.”
For a moment, it appeared as though Lucy closed her eyes. Somewhere nearby a twig snapped.
Willow’s breath caught in her throat. “L-lucy?”
Lucy’s eyes shot open. “Willow Rosenberg, I believe I have located your friend. You will only have a few moments with her before we will need to leave you. Even in death, it is my duty to protect the innocent. Blessed be. And good luck.”
Lucy’s spirit drifted off, and in her place stood the figure of a woman Willow had known for a short time, but had impacted her immensely.
“Willow,” the woman said, sorrow filling her eyes. “Oh, how I’ve missed you.”
Willow wanted to throw her arms around the kind spirit, but she knew that was impossible. All she could muster was a single tear down the side of her cheek.
“I’ve missed you, too,” Willow said. “We all have.”
“Willow, this was very dangerous,” Ms. Calendar’s spirit warned her. “I would ask you how you managed it, but you have always been more than capable of anything you set your mind to.”
“She’s right.” A deep, British voice startled Willow from behind. “It was very foolish to attempt this spell, Willow.”
“Giles?!” Willow half turned, nearly breaking her concentration. She could feel the winds pick up from all around them.
As he stood next to his young pupil, Giles let out an audible gasp as his eyes laid upon the spirit Willow conjured. “Jenny.”
“Rupert,” the spirit of Jenny said. They stared serenely at each other. “Don’t be too hard on her. It comes from a good heart.”
“These spells are much too dangerous for her,” Giles said. He gently grabbed Willow’s hand. “For you.”
The wind continued to pick up, and Willows hair began fluttering around like dancing embers.
“Willow, you need to end the spell,” Giles told her, gently squeezing her hand. “It’s time.”
“B-but how?” Willow asked. “She’s here, Giles.”
“I know,” he said. “And while I am incredibly disappointed you attempted this by yourself, I do thank you for doing this. For her. For me.” He looked back at the spirit of his lost love. “But it’s time.”
The ceremonial pyre had gotten bigger and brighter; the strong wind threatened to spread the fire.
Suddenly, the spirit of Lucy Hanover appeared once again.
“Willow Rosenberg,” Lucy said, urgently. “I have tried to fight off the dangerous spirits, but it won’t be long until they are here.” She took Jenny’s hand. “I am sorry, but we must go.”
Jenny held out her free hand towards Giles. “I’ll be here, Rupert. Whenever you need me, I am here.”
Giles returned the gesture silently, and grabbed Willow’s hand. “Willow, you must end the spell.”
Tears in her eyes, Willow chanted the words to close the ceremony. As she did, the wind and fire ceased, and the spirits of Lucy and Jenny dissipated until there was no light, and no presence in the field, except for Willow and Giles.
Willow turned and wrapped her arms around her mentor. “She was here Giles.”
“Yes, Willow, I’m aware,” he smiled. As they pulled apart, he gently grabbed her shoulders. “Why did you do this Willow?”
Willow looked over at the burnt-out pyre, where the spirit of Jenny was just standing. “Ever since that night when we were on the staircase and I was doing the ritual to expel evil spirits, and you were so certain that it was Jenny haunting the school, I just wanted to find a way to show you she is okay.”
Giles gave Willow another big hug. “You were foolish to try this alone.” He shook his head. “I know I have been hard on you and your craft over the last few months, but it’s for your safety. These are dangerous forces you are dealing with.”
“I know, Giles,” Willow said. “But I’m good at it, and it can help.”
Giles looked around at the burnt pile, and the scattering of fall leaves all over the field. “Okay, I understand. But please, let me teach you.” For a brief second, he caught one more glimpse of his beautiful Jenny. “It’s what she would have wanted.”
T
thrasherpix
Don't know how I missed this contest, but I'll check the others out!
