Horror logo

Magic is a strong power

the greatest is love

By Kelli Sheckler-AmsdenPublished 3 years ago 15 min read
8
Magic is a strong power
Photo by Alexander Krivitskiy on Unsplash

She laughed.

The absurdity and pure ridiculousness were not lost on her. Ever since she could remember, even as a child- Clair had a way about her. Without ever needing to ask, people simply gave her things. Did things for her

This was no different.

She remembered a time in high school when she had been caught red handed, guilty as sin, and simply because of her looks, was let go. Everyone hated her for that. Never, not one time had she been held accountable for anything, and no matter what she tried, people only noticed her for her looks. She thought, this will change one day, maybe today.

Today: It was about 3am and the neighbors reported hearing some strange noises coming from the abandoned garage in the alley out back. “The dogs went crazy!”, he said to the officer at his door. “I thought they were going to go right through the window! They have never acted like that before, like a wild pack of wolves!! "What was the noise like? “officer Maloney asked. “You know the eerie sounds you hear in a movie, just before the jump scare? Like that!! It was a high-pitched squeal, it sounded like cats being ripped apart by something!” The officer was writing notes in his book, when the dogs, who were lying quietly on the rug by the fire, suddenly jumped up growling, barking, and biting at one another. They bolted through the open door, knocking officer Maloney to the ground. The owner screamed, “MAX, OPIE, BEO, COME BACK!!”

Dawson took off chasing his dogs, leaving the officer wedged between the door and a brick wall, Maloney called out for him to stop. “Wait, Mr. Dawson, come back!” As he got back on his feet, he heard some screaming and yelping. He began to move in the direction of the commotion when he realized he had fallen on a metal rod, and it had penetrated his leg leaving a large open wound, making it difficult to go anywhere quickly. He grabbed the flashlight out of his pocket, and radioed dispatch that he was in pursuit of a man and 3 dogs, asking for some back-up for whatever was happening back in the alley.

“Dispatch, dispatch, this is officer Maloney,” Any unit in the area of 5th and Main Street, unit -5 needs a backup unit to check by.” Dispatch was silent. He called again, nothing but silence. Growing anxious and a little angry “DISPATCH, you got a copy, CODE 20, officer in need of assistance, get me some back-up right away!” the radio crackled, A voice came over the radio, “Heya officer Maloney”, the voice was ominous and familiar, and not the voice of dispatch.

About 10 years earlier, when officer Maloney was a rookie on the force and new to St. Francisville, Louisiana. He had been involved in one of the town’s most violent and unexplainable crimes ever recorded. No one in the town ever talked about it, for fear this day would happen again.

Today: had arrived.

Clair was a young woman in her early 20’s working at the St. Francisville funeral parlor. A recent beauty school graduate, Clair made sure the residents of St Francisville looked their best as they moved on to the other side, and she was good at her job. Most families that used her services would attest that their loved ones would be well received and nearly unrecognizable in the afterlife. Clair was a looker. Men, single and otherwise, were drawn to her seemingly irresistible charms. And she knew it and grew accustomed to the way that made her feel. Her confidence and dexterous wiles became the talk of the lady’s club, and this dissimulation Clair was so good at, was what got us here, TODAY!

Rumor had it that Clair was spending time with a married man from a neighboring town, and in small town fashion, was strongly disapproved of. It was not uncommon for women to cross the street to avoid passing Clair, and the mudslinging…. Would make a pig proud! Any other woman would have been shamed into behaving, but not Clair, she was charged by it! She went out of her way to flaunt her labeled immodesty and had no remorse or apology for it!

The unknown man (Nick Baxter), she kept company with was suspected of being involved in some shady business ventures in New Orleans, his hometown. This made him even more appealing to Clair, and unbeknownst to the towns people quite a danger to them.

Maloney hesitated; he was shaken by the surprise. “This is Maloney, who is this?” the man on the other end laughed. “Oh, I’m pretty sure you know, eh Maloney, what’s the matter, didn’t think I’d keep my promise?” Maloney needed to answer in a way as to not sound completely shocked, but he was terrified. “we buried you Baxter, I saw them cover your body.” The laughter was menacing and uncontrollable, “yeah, that’s a trick I learned there in the big easy, Franky boy, gonna take more than a bullet to stop me. And you will never figure out what that might be…I’m comin’ for you Franky! No need to waste your time looking for Dawson and those mutts of his, hehehe, they ain’t never gonna be found” His threats, his cockiness, his irreverence was sickening. Maloney called out for Dawson and his dogs, what sounded like a huge scuffle before was over now, only deafening silence. The radio crackled again, “hey Frankie, any idea where I can find Claaaaairrrr, I heard somewhere that you two were an item? Frank? In case you forgot, she is mine. This entire town is mine!!! Hang in there Franky boy, I’m sending back up, “The radio went silent.

At that moment Opie, one of Dawson’s dogs ran up the alley, he was covered in blood and scratches swaying and growling, his eyes were black and void. He stopped about 10 feet in front of Maloney and made a noise like nothing he had ever heard before, as he crept forward, Frank noticed something hanging from the dog’s neck. As he squinted to see, the dog lunged, Frank pulled his weapon, BANG, the dog fell hard at his feet. The dog moaned and as the life ran out of him, whimpered and licked at Frank’s hand. Frank removed the chain that was around Opie’s neck, it was engraved. It read,” I was betrayed in this town, I am coming to settle the score, run now while you think you can, then you ain’t gonna run no more!” On the backside were the initials NB, there were some encryptions he didn’t understand and Clair’s name. Maloney didn’t know what to make of it all, but he knew he had to find Clair first!

Frank made his way to his patrol car, he tried to radio again. He found the radios were still down. He rummaged through the first aid box and wrapped his leg with a cloth, it was a pretty deep puncture, so he was sure to wrap it tightly. As he drove down the street, he tried to call Clair. He noticed that the town was completely dark, not a single car in sight, every streetlight was off. The call went directly into her voicemail. Frank was almost in a panic now. he left a message “Clair, this is Frank. Please, you need to call me right away, It’s Nick, I know I sound crazy, but I talked with him, he isn’t dead!” He laid the phone in his lap and accelerated. He was about to Clair’s house when his cell phone rang, “Frank, it’s Clair, you aren't crazy: Her voice was eerily calm. “No?! I don’t know, maybe I am, where are you?” She said, “I am at the funeral home, come on in the back door, I’m in the cellar.” As she hung up Frank was sure he heard a faint voice, like whispering in the background, was he already there, was he too late?

As Frank pulled up behind the funeral home, he saw a strange light flickering in the cellar window, he reached over the backseat and grabbed his shot gun. Not knowing what or who he might encounter, he did not call out to Clair. He moved as swiftly and quietly as he could with the injury to his leg, into the door and down the back stairs. As he turned the corner, he could see Clair sitting on the table, surrounded by candles, swinging her legs, she was talking, almost singing- but no one else was in the room. She saw him as he rounded the bottom of the stairs. She smiled slowly and continued to repeat these words. “Bringeth to a full rousing bubble, 2 drops of oil of boil and a Deadman’s toe. Next add a dab of newt saliva, dash of pox. Stir thrice. One final thing and all is done, add a piece of thine own tongue.” She pulled out a knife, and before Frank could stop her, swiftly cut the tip of her tongue off. He was in shock, he yelled at her, but she continued kicking her feet and dropped her tongue into a jar of liquid and swirled it around. The blood and liquid mixture clouded and bubbled over onto her lap.

With blood covering her face, she yelled out “ENOUGH!!”

Frank ran to her, pulling the bandage he had wrapped on his leg, and covered her mouth to stop the bleeding. He was in a panic to help her; Clair calmly and gently pulled the bandage from her face. Her mouth was distorted and misshapen, and she mumbled, “ beauty is only skin deep, love is much deeper, give away to receive, let go of it to keep her, “let’s go” She said as she grabbed a black binder off of the table. The table where she had prepared so many bodies for their final rest. No one would rest tonight if she didn’t finish what had been started.

She led Frank to a hidden door across from the stairway, and they followed a long tunnel that emerged through a vault and into the cemetery. Before they took one step onto the lawn, she handed Frank the book. He opened it and over her sobbing, read what was written out loud.

“I have made many mistakes, but this was not one, I have protected and guarded my one surviving son, before the dawn breaks you must reveal the worse, protect this woman and reverse the curse. The power is great, but your will must be strong, make right what’s been done destroying the wrong. Release this poor soul, she’s been carrying the shame, she’s done nothing wrong she won’t take the blame. Her beauty restored to what once was before, freed now to be whole and completely adored”

Frank looked at Clair, “what does this mean?” he asked her. “You have always been beautiful, what curse, what son, what blame?” Before he could say anything else, Clair pointed to a figure just outside the vault. It was an old man Frank had never seen before, he drew his weapon, but Clair placed her hand on his and shook her head no. The man approached them. He was glowing like a fire but was untouched by the flames. He spoke, but only in riddles. “what has been passed, remains to be seen, not one but two played in this little game” Frank was beside himself. “I don’t know what you’re saying, I don’t understand”. The man continued, “the price paid was high, the wrong person paid, return the right one to the place he was laid, up out of the grave it seems he has risen return the right one to eternity’s prison” Frank felt he was coming unhinged, he could not understand what was happening or what he needed to do to get things in hand.

The figure without warning grew bigger, brighter and more forceful and with an explosion, was gone. One lone spark floated down from the sky and landed on Clair, all at once she was engulfed in flames. Frank in one motion pushed her to the ground trying to put out the flames, when he looked up, there stood Nick. He was smirking and laughing under his breath. “what’s the matter Frankie ol’ boy, never seen magic before? Don’t worry, I won't let you won’t suffer long!”

As Frank reached over to help Clair, he noticed a picture she was holding in her hand, a picture of she and Nick together, he took the picture and held it up to see it better. Nick in a rage, demanded, “where did you get that?!” Clair stood up, she had absolutely no marks on her, and she said “no longer bound in the spell you cast, I free my love from the promise asked. It’s you not him that should be laid, into death’s dark and final grave” Nick went crazy, “HOW COULD YOU?” he screamed. Clair continued, “I believed you when you said I could trust you like no other, fool me once, but not again, that promise came from your brother, I have the power, your magic spell, and send your spirit back to hell” As she spoke the words the ground rumbled, and fright filled Nick’s face. As if in an episode of supernatural, Nick dissolved into a pile of ash. Suddenly the wind picked up and the ashes began to swirl, round and around they flew in a perfect circle surrounding Frank and Clair. Clair took Frank’s hand and helped him up; immediately the ashes fell to the ground.

As quickly as the lights went off, the security lights turned on.

Frank noticed the ashes made a shape, an arrow. It pointed to a vault on the edge of the cemetery. Frank pointed his flashlight to see the door on the vault was open, as he began to walk in that direction, Clair handed him the notebook again, It was opened to the last page, where he could see: there was a map of the town, the cemetery and the vault. There was a letter enclosed.

It said: “10 years ago today, I was hired to rob the bank. I was given very explicit directions on what I should take and the plans to do it. I had every intention to finish anyone who got in my way. I was paid $20,000 dollars and told to stash the treasure from the bank here, in this vault. On my way to the bank I came across this incredibly beautiful but terribly sad girl crying on the bench just outside of the funeral home. She was so intriguing I could not pass her by, I was drawn to her. I asked her why she was crying, and she said, I am cursed with my looks, no one looks further to see how lonely I am, I will never be anything more than this, I act like it’s no big deal but I wish I could disappear. I was taken aback by such a comment, who complains about being beautiful? She told me of a time in High school to get the attention of the principle, she stole some money off the teacher’s desk. Even though she admitted it and others saw her do it, the principle let her go. Everyone assumed she must have been given special privileges because of her looks and proceeded to spread the rumor that she was inappropriate and promiscuous. She let everyone believe the rumors and found her only peace and friendships were with the dead people she made beautiful for their journey to the afterlife. I couldn’t help myself; I instantly fell in love with this sweet gentle girl. It was only when my twin brother found out about her that things went sideways, and all those people were hurt. It’s the reason why he conjured an evil spirit to trick her and take her away from me. If you’re reading this letter, that means you have stopped him. There is still a chance for me. My father grew up in New Orleans and ran a spiritual shop, I was not into that kind of thing and got caught up with a rough crowd, my brother however excelled in it. Black magic was his passion, and when my father passed, he became reckless and dove deeper into its darkness, it became his life and the near end of mine. Enclosed in this book is the spell needed to reverse this curse and bring me back to my love.”

Frank looked at Clair, he knew he too had fallen for her because of her looks, he felt small. He remembered the riddle, about renewed beauty and shame carried by one undeserving. He took the book and his hands were guided to the small spell. He looked at Clair and told her he was sorry that she had felt so alone, but he was willing to do whatever it would take to make it right.

The spell went like this: “past is past, and fate is strong, release pain from deeds done wrong, love creates, and hate destroys, reunite hearts of Clair and Troy”

As Frank spoke the words, he felt the wind pick up and the sky lit up like fireworks, the air rumbled, and lightning struck the ground next to Clair. As the dust settled, there he stood. Clair said in a fragile voice “Troy, it’s you, you came back like you promised” Troy smiled at her and kissed her hands. “and you saved me again today like you did all those years ago”. Frank felt out of place, as he turned to go Troy placed his hands on his shoulder and said, “because of your sacrifice, I am with my love again, I can never repay you, but to show my gratitude, I want you to have this.” He handed Frank a duffle bag filled with the money from the payment he received. “It’s yours, payment for the grandest treasure ever!” When Frank turned around to say his goodbyes, they were gone.

The story is told of a brave officer who fought off evil, renewed man’s faith in humanity and saved an entire town that night from certain doom.

But Frank knows that he was the one saved that night, and he was reminded that the greatest wealth is found inside your heart, it’s love

fiction
8

About the Creator

Kelli Sheckler-Amsden

Telling stories my heart needs to tell <3 life is a journey, not a competition

If you like what you read, feel free to leave a tip, I would love some feedback

Find me on twitter @kelli7958958

or facebook

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.