Pipsqueak waves me over into the back of the office and unlocks the door. We step into the forbidden dark room together. It smells musty, and the many cobwebs show no one has been in here for years.
The structure differs from the rest of the library, which has plastered white walls, whereas this room has bluestone walls and old wooden beams across the ceiling. There are old rickety wooden bookshelves filled with old books. Some are leather-bound, and some have steel clasps and jewels on them. We approach the table carved from stone. There are a few small, half-melted candles, with some matches nearby. Pipsqueak lights the three candles. We stand side by side and take in the old medieval room.
‘You start with those books, and I’ll start with these.’ I point.
‘But I don’t know what I’m looking for.’
‘How to break a curse?’
‘What are you getting m-me into?’ she squeaks. I sigh and decide that I can trust her, and it’s best to let her in on the secret.
‘You can’t tell anyone, okay?’
‘O-okay.’
‘It’s Nina. Someone has cursed her, but we don’t know what the curse is yet and how it affects her, and the curse it is affecting me by making my shifts unbearably painful.’
‘How do you know all this?’
‘Because a witch came over and told us.’
‘A witch? But they haven’t existed in over a hundred years.’
‘Sorry to break it to you, but they do. You can’t tell anyone anything about any of this.’
‘I won’t tell, your secret is safe, but I have to ask if Nina is the one who has a curse, then how is it affecting you and not her?’
‘That’s just another reason we are here. We need to learn anything we can that will help.’
‘Okay, well, we better get reading then.’
I take a book from one end of the bookshelf while Pipsqueak starts at the other end. I unlock the steel clasp and carefully flick through. Each page has a symbol and a description of what each represents and does.
Nothing helpful. I put it back and took the next book. I can’t read it though it appears to be in Latin.
‘Found anything yet?’ I ask.
‘No, this one seems to be about the history of witches from Salem. I’ll keep looking.’
I glance at another book. The cover reads Spells and Hexes.
I run my fingers along with the words and read out loud.
‘Casting spells or cursing ill-fortune on another comes with the cost of one’s own curse. Only spells that mean well will have no negative effect on the caster. Please proceed with caution.’
‘What does that mean?’ Pipsqueak asks. I shrug my shoulders and continue to read the book.
’Spells and hexes can be cast through many sources. Witches are the most popular known to cast spells and hexes. Spells cast in a group with their coven are longer lasting and harder to break. Arcane Mages work the same way as witches.
Anyone who knows how to use it can use relics. Items such as these can summon ghosts or even demons or may even curse someone. These could be items such as a voodoo doll, a small statue, or symbols made from twine or other materials. They usually place the item under the victim’s pillow or bed if it’s a curse.
Praying or wishing to one’s god or goddess may be granted if you are lucky. Anyone can also curse someone using their god’s or goddess’s name. A powerful sign will occur, such as an earthquake, lightning strike, or a loud rumble. If the god or goddess accept your pray, wish or curse.’
‘Maybe you should check her bedroom for any relics when you return home?’
‘That’s a good idea.’ I will try that. I unzip my school bag and place the book inside.
‘W-what are you doing, Magnus? You can’t take the book. It would be -s-stealing.’
‘I’m just borrowing it for now. I’ll return it once we break the curse, okay?’
‘I guess.’
‘Time to get out of here.’ I say.
We blow the candles out and open the door ajar. Once the coast is clear, I walk out and distract the librarian again with more flirting while Pipsqueak locks up the room and returns the keys.
I give her a hi-five, and we part ways.
‘See you at school tomorrow, Pipsqueak.’
‘It’s Pippa.’ She yells behind me.
As soon as I return home, everyone is eating dinner.
‘How did you go with your assignment?’ Mum asks.
‘I think I found some helpful information.’ I say, walking up the stairs. I intend to go to Nina’s room and search for any relics.
‘Magnus, the rest of your assignment can wait. Join us for dinner. Your meal is already getting cold.’
‘Okay, Mum.’ I place my bag down. I’d prefer to search Nina’s room first, but Zak, May, and Flint aren’t aware of the curse, so I can’t say why my meal can wait.
‘What’s the assignment for?’ dad asks.
‘Um, it’s for… science.’
‘I didn’t know we had an assignment.’ Nina says.
I give her a “be quiet” look.
‘Oh, you mean that assignment?’ she says, catching on quickly.
I devour my meal so that they can excuse me from the table.
‘What’s the assignment about?’ Her mother, Amelia, asks.
Nina looks at me for help.
‘Weather, how different weathers form.’ I say.
‘Oh, fascinating.’ She says.
‘This dinner was delicious,’ I say, walking around the table to Nina. I gently take her arm.
‘Since I’m about to finish our assignment, you may as well come to help me.’ I laugh nervously.
’Yes, our assignment.’ She says, standing up and playing along. She knows I’m up to something. We reach the top of the stairs.
‘What is going on with you, Magnus?’
‘We have to search your room.’
‘My room? What for?’
I look around to make sure no one is watching. I take Nina’s hand, lead her into her room, and shut the door behind us. Unzipping my bag, I hand her the book of spells and hexes.
‘Magnus, where did you get this? Do you know how much trouble we can get into for having this?’
‘Yeah, I know. I’m just borrowing it for a while. I’ll return it later.’
‘You shouldn’t have this.’
‘Nina, I took it to help you.’
‘How is that book going to help me?’
Read this part here.
‘Anyone who knows how to use it can use relics. Items such as these can summon ghosts or even demons or may even curse someone. These could be items such as a voodoo doll, a small statue, or symbols made from twine or other materials. If it’s a curse, they usually place the item under the victim’s pillow or bed.’
She looks up from the book.
‘Okay, and what’s this got to do with anything?’
‘We should search your room for any relics, just in case.’
She smiles and nods, hopeful about my suggestion. She closes the book and places it in my bag, and searches under her pillow and through her bedding.
‘Nothing here.’
‘Here, move aside. I’ll lift your bed.’ I walk over to her big, bulky bed and lift it with ease. Nina moves the boxes of clothes aside that are underneath the bed.
‘Nothing here.’ She says.
‘Check the boxes.’ I say. She tosses many items around. At the same time, I put the bed frame back down, lifted the mattress, and checked under it.
‘Nothing.’ I say.
As she stands up, there is a loud knock at the door that startles us. Nina slips, and I grab her with one hand and fall, holding the mattress with the other hand and land huddled on the mattress together, our lips only an inch apart. The door opens, Zak, Flint, and May stand there with shocked, surprised looks on their faces while Nina and I yell out at the same time.
‘This is not what it looks like!’
