Chapter 1

Felicia looked around her as she walked in the Ferncliff Forest. Her stride was hesitant and afraid. It was so dark in the forest that she was startled by the rustling noises of the leaves blowing softly in the wind around her. Her torch composed murky, ominous shadows against the darkness of the night, which captured her vivid imagination. She shivered as she felt a cool breeze whisk through her shawl.

Then she heard the slow, intense flapping of wings moving towards her, just a few paces behind her. She looked around and saw nothing.

“Olivia, is that you?”

There was no reply, so she walked faster, bumping into shrubs and roots. She got to the clearing and was consoled by the clean, fresh air of the openness. She swung her torch around to see if anybody was there, but saw nothing except the muffled silence of the night air. She relaxed slightly, thinking she had allowed her imagination to run away with her. Okay I am alright. Where is Olivia? She was to meet Olivia here at the clearing at midnight. It was fifteen minutes passed midnight already.

Felicia had been late because her husband, Samuel, had taken so long to fall off to sleep. She had rushed here, hoping Olivia would wait for her. Olivia did not seem like a patient woman and might have already left. She was not sure if she was disappointed or relieved. If Olivia had already left, she would not need to go through with it. But if she is still on her way, she sighed deeply. I am going to do it. Felicia was unsure what to do next. She had come this far, she reasoned to herself, so there was really no harm in waiting a bit. Fine, I will wait for half an hour, then leave. But I need to relax because every sound is giving me the creeps here. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She jerked suddenly when she realized she was not alone. There was definitely something in the forest. She felt she was being watched, peered at. She casts her eyes suspiciously across the bushes around her, hoping to identify the source of her suspicion.

She turned around and jumped when she heard the cold, harsh voice behind her.

“Well, you took your time, didn’t you?”

Olivia was standing directly behind her, so close that she could feel her breathing into the nape of her neck.

“Olivia, you gave me such a fright! I did not hear you coming. I am so sorry I am late, but...”

“No matter, let’s get to work. I don’t have the whole night. Come.” Felicia felt the cold, dry hand grab her. She followed Olivia and as they walked, she realized that she had made a mistake. She should not be here. She should be at home with her husband and her two-year old daughter. She had been motivated by anger and jealousy, and now, finding herself in the forest at midnight with a black witch, she was sure she should just call it off. She realized she had been wrong to come here tonight, particularly as she was scared of the Olivia she saw now. She looked different now with her long black dress and no shoes, her green eyes gleaming dangerously in the moonlight. Her voice had a menacing tone which she had not detected when she had met Olivia in town. She had been a soft-spoken woman with a pale green dress, which had made her eyes light up beautifully when she smiled.

Olivia stopped suddenly. “Sit down there while I prepare the ritual.” Felicia sat obediently and Olivia disappeared into one of the bushes. It is odd that she never seems to make a sound as she walks, Felicia reflected. Olivia emerged from the bushes carrying a bag filled with herbs and black candles. She placed the candles in a circle around both of them and lit them. She moved from candle to candle, sprinkling some of the herbs, while she chanted a string of words Felicia did not recognise. One giant candle was placed in the middle of the circle, facing both of them. Felicia felt the gravity of the ritual and its dark force closing in on her. She wanted to say something, to stop the ritual, but Olivia seemed unaware of her presence. Felicia cleared her throat, but Olivia glared her into silence, her eyes dark and hostile and her lips pursed tightly in disapproval. She pulled out the lock of dark hair. She held it over the flame and chanted: Winds of the North, East, South and West

Call to my behest

The Angel of Darkness, Angel of Pain

That he may serve my purpose once again.

Felicia felt that cool breeze again and Olivia paused for a while. Angel of Darkness, Angel of Pain

Thank you for your presence once again.

Give me your power

So that I can shower

Pain and suffering to young Portia McGuire.

Let her beauty attract much desire

That burns like a flame in a fire.

That such desire be turned away in fear and pain

That she will not know if she is sane.

Let her beauty be known to all

Who in time will turn and fall

Away from her in fright

At her beautiful sight.

Angel of Darkness, Angel of Pain

Increase her pain

With a binding of all the allies and runt

Born of Portia McGuire, to bear the brunt.

Let this spell be so bound

To invoke the evil sight and sound

Of The Darkness which will give no love, joy or celebrations to all the allies and runt born of Portia McGuire for many generations. Let this spell be unbound and apart taken

Only by the energy of the power of love which remains unshaken.

Let its power to drained and extracted

Only by the power of two Protectors, together contracted

Winds of the North, East, South and West

Grant to me my request

So mote it be.

Olivia took the lock of hair and burnt it in the flame. It sizzled and struggled against the engulfing hunger of the flame, but Olivia’s fingers held firm until all the hair was burnt. There was a strong stench of hair and herbs which clung in determination to the air as she spoke to Felicia.

“Now there. It is done. Portia will never have your husband or any other man.”

“I don’t know. Olivia, can you reverse it? It seems a bit harsh.”

“No, we can do nothing now. This was your desire. You came to me and pleaded with me to stop her and that is what I have done. Nothing more can be done. Go back to your husband.”

She turned and collected her bag and walked off into the bushes.

Felicia stumbled out of the forest, frightened by the suggestive sounds of the night. She was sure there was something following her home, but she saw nothing except the darkness of the night. She was also frightened by what she and Olivia had done. What had she done? She had been completely angry when she had approached Olivia for help to magically keep her husband from other women, especially the handsome Portia. Now Olivia was talking about generations of pain for Portia? She shrugged, telling herself that the idea was ridiculous and it was nothing more than Olivia being dramatic for her benefit. She got home and could not sleep, consumed by guilt for what she had done to her friend Portia.

For two weeks she tried to find Olivia to reverse the spell, but she seemed to have vanished. Felicia comforted herself with the thought that it was not real. It is only magic after all. Nothing can possibly happen. She chided herself for being silly about the whole thing, and convinced herself that nothing really happened out there. She was fortified in this belief when she saw Portia that week. Feeling a little worried and guilty, she had gone to visit Portia to check if everything was fine. She had been greatly relieved to see that Portia was still as vivid and beautiful as ever, laughing joyfully as she always did. Felicia felt much better and dismissed thoughts of Olivia from her mind.

Olivia walked off into the forest with her helper, The Darkness. Its wings flapped overhead as she walked and she smiled gleefully. She had waited a long time to perform that spell. It had been in her family for generations and she had never found a willing participant to work with her. She had travelled far and wide, hoping to find the right person to submit to the spell. Felicia, with her naive insecurities about her wealthy and dashingly handsome husband, had been easy to convince, especially because her friend Portia was so vibrant and beautiful, with an open friendliness that had surprised Olivia when she met her. It had not been difficult to get Felicia to cut a lock from her friend’s dark hair. Olivia knew Portia would not steal the girl’s husband, but it had not been difficult to suggestively persuade her of such a horrendous reality. Olivia was so happy. It had gone extremely well, her best work yet. She rubbed her hands in satisfaction. Now I can go back home to my family and friends. It has been such a long time. She took the next train from Rosen Bay and slept all the way home to Dunville, relaxed and content. The Curse of The Darkness had finally been cast in the Ferncliff Forest.