Under a Spell
View DetailsThe Winners!
Maceen and Al-khatoo . Second Place in the Under a Spell Challenge.
Antar bantar, goft or daftar, choof, choof. The old lady said for the last time under her ‘second tongue,’ as the people of the town would say, so no one could hear her. The baby disappeared from her gahwara crib. “Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I warn you all? Not to give her milk and honey. She is al-khatoo. She is the one and only alive otherworldly old woman, deceiving death…” Maceen kept screaming. But no one seemed to listen or mind her. Hunger and thirst had spread in the entire country by now. People cared more about food and water than their babies. “If you think, you have sacrificed her for this year’s harvest, you are wrong. Al-khatoo cannot do anything with God’s misery set upon us. She cannot bring us prosperity. She only takes it.” Still, nobody was listening to Maceen. The crowd now started dispersing. The twilight had disappeared somewhere in the darkness. The late autumn air felt cold around the village mountains. Only a few thoughtful parents locked their young kids in their empty tableee khana, where their livestock once used to spend evenings so that the insane members of the village do not snatch their babies at night to deliver them to Al-khatoo.
By Parwana Fayyaz3 years ago in Fiction
The Witch of the Coven. Runner-Up in the Under a Spell Challenge.
“I exorcise thee, Goddess of Water, to cleanse us pure, that we not be harmed in the realm of the spirits.” Cindy finishes the first chalk circle and steps back, bowing her head beneath her cloak. Tara sprinkles a handful of sand over the enchanted knife shoved into the floorboards at the circle center.
By Sarah DuPerron3 years ago in Horror
Deep Roots. Runner-Up in the Under a Spell Challenge.
"Alta vocamus radices," Serena led the chant, her large, grey eyes rolled to the heavens, and felt the susurrus in the air as the coven repeated her words, "lato loquimur Olympo," she raised her hands as if reaching for some unknown gift, "Deorum summas spectamus montibus altos."
By S. A. Crawford3 years ago in Fiction
Glenmore Witches. Runner-Up in the Under a Spell Challenge. Content Warning.
“Ego ignis sum… Ego ignis sum…” Ava whispered the words over and over. A mantra for the rolling cypher glyphs that shined bright green on the screen in front of her and into her synthetic eyes.
By J D Guzman3 years ago in Fiction
Night Shift at the Fauxfillment Center. Runner-Up in the Under a Spell Challenge.
“Break the belts, grind the gears, this is what corporate fears. Stop the line for a time, through our will by our design.” It was well past midnight and the candles had burned low when the women assembled in Donna’s living room finished chanting and gazed down collectively at the sheet of paper on the floor. Though the presence that had arrived during the ritual did not remain once the lights were turned on, they all agreed that they felt a sense of fulfillment. Anna pointed out the irony as she poured herself another margarita.
By J. Otis Haas3 years ago in Fiction
The Godmother's Bargain. Runner-Up in the Under a Spell Challenge. Content Warning.
"Requiescat cum diabolo et dona sua referat pro sanguine tui sanguinis," I chanted over my mother's corpse. Rest with the devil, and bring back his gifts for the blood of your blood. My voice was quiet, so not to wake the household, and red fell from my palms to the ground. My mother's spell had been broken with her death and I had to rekindle the enchantment the only way I knew. Blood called to blood.
By Alison McBain3 years ago in Horror
The 13TH Witch. Runner-Up in the Under a Spell Challenge.
“She shines by day and into the night. Daughter to a mother both chaste and bright. A moon and star upon her cheek. Make this scrying stone find its site.” The 12 women stood in a closed circle holding hands. A large obsidian stone floated in the air over a map of the Camel Back mountains. It moved in a wavering pattern buzzing as it neared the map. It floated above a spot and slowly landed on the town of Chandler.
By Pam Saraga3 years ago in Earth
