Page 39 of Bewitched By the Headless Horseman
“Lucia.” Edith smiled and motioned them both to sit at the two chairs in front of her desk. “How may I help you?”
Lucia let Stevie inform them of what she’d come across the past few weeks, of how the Horseman wasn’t a demon at all, how a warlock had done something with his head and no one knew if Levi was still around.
Edith set her pen down and folded her hands on the table. “The town’s been looking for the Horseman’s head for as long as that tale has been around. You say that supposedly a fortune teller told the Horseman the world would darken if he remained headless, then you have another rumor that if he receives hishead demons will flood the earth, yet we’ve never heard either of those theories, nor have any of our fortune tellers mentioned this. As for this revenge story from the warlock? It sounds like something the Horseman must work out with him. There’s nothing we can really do since we don’t believe it’s affecting Sleepy Hollow. And by the sounds of it, it might calm the ghosts down if the Horseman isn’t hunting them. Demon or not.”
“If you want to continue searching,” Lottie added, “then do so, but we have more important matters to handle. Like making sure the tourists continue to turn away from our town so we don’t wind up all over the media.”
“That was a waste of time,” Stevie muttered as she and Lucia walked back out into the fog, the darkness already surrounding them.
“Told you we need a new council.” Lucia shrugged. “I think they really don’t know what’s going on with this fog and darkness either. Just another way for them to attempt to keep the town calm. To me, it’s looking more and more like the fortune teller’s theory is right about the darkness. I’m going to send another letter to Adelia today, this one more urgent.”
Once Stevie got home, she found Kit composed on the living room couch. His body turned toward her and the first words out of his mouth were, “That movie was atrocious. There’s also an abundance of information on the Headless Horseman, most of it myth, nothing close to what truly happened. And no mention of Levi.”
“We’ll have to just continue digging. Anyway, I spoke to the ghost at the comic book store, and Erik mentioned something new to add.” She paused. “Lucia and I vetoed the rumor is true, but it’s probably another reason why ghosts either A. aren’t really helping, or B. they run when they see you, or a combination of A and B. The rumor is that by reattaching your head, it could free the demons in the Hollow.”
Kit scoffed. “Foolishness.”
“That’s what Lucia said pretty much, but she’s going to let the Crowned Witch know every detail. I’m starting to feel it’s all connected somehow. The council told everyone the fog was part of the Eye opening, but that was never mentioned in the story. Then there is the night coming earlier each day. Your ghostly history. What the fortune teller said about darkness. Whatever spell Levi cast on your head.”
“I agree. I only wish I had an answer to give.”
Stevie’s phone dinged before she could attempt to search more on old Sleepy Hollow. “Finally. Ginger’s home, and she wants us to bring the bone Lucia spelled.”
As they stepped outside, Stevie shivered from the gusty air. Inferno stood near the tree, seeming to have tired from the woods. “I think your horse wants you to ride him. Let’s see if you can keep up with me.” She grinned, starting up her moped.
“You mean, you keep up withme, Pumpkin.” He chuckled.
It didn’t take long for them to arrive at Ginger’s cozy home, and of course Kit reached her house first. Fall scarecrows decorated the garden, pumpkins settled between each one. Most tourists that came to town believed witches lived in old cottages in the woods—not that they ever found out the truth. The only one with a hidden home buried inside a forest of trees in Sleepy Hollow was the Crowned Witch.
Ginger met them at the door wearing a plaid skirt brushing her ankles, a peasant blouse, and gold sandals covering her feet. Her gray hair was pulled back into a low bun and blue eye shadow painted her lids. Only a few fine lines were etched into her skin, making her appear closer to fifty instead of approaching seventy.
“I take it the town celebrity is with you?” Ginger squinted, looking out the doorway. “I wish I could feel the ghosts like my niece can.”
Stevie motioned to her left where Kit stood. “He’s right here.”
“If he can cross my barrier, I’ll see what we can do to help him.” Ginger cocked her head, gesturing them inside.
“Please don’t pretend like you’re burning again,” Stevie mumbled to him.
“I wouldn’t dare,” Kit cooed before stepping over the threshold after Stevie, whole and intact.
“He’s inside.”
“I know you and Lucia told me he wasn’t a demon, but a witch must confirm these things herself.” Ginger started down the hallway, waving them to follow her. “We’ll go to the basement and begin.”
Citrus and spice clung to the air as they always did in Ginger’s house. Horseshoes, cowbells, painted chickens, and wooden wagon wheels hung across the walls. The stables were behind the house, holding pigs, chickens, and goats, amongst a variety of animals. Some were her pets, while others were necessary for her spells.
Just past the small kitchen, Ginger opened the basement door, and the citrusy scent pierced the air, growing bolder.
“Come now, lovelies. Let’s see what we can do.” Ginger grasped her skirt and descended the lime-green carpeted steps. The basement hadn’t changed in all the years she’d known Ginger. When she used to come with her mom, Stevie would watch in wonder at the process of one heart being replaced by another.
Wooden shelves lined the walls, filled from top to bottom with jars in a cluttered and unorganized manner. Labels weren’t on them like they were with Lucia’s. But from being a witch’s assistant, Stevie could easily pick out what each one was.Mummified bones, pig hearts, snake venom, vampire blood, goat’s teeth, chicken eyes, werewolf fur, baby’s breath, and virgin hair to name a few. Three cauldrons rested in the middle of the room, lit by deep purple crackling flames.
“The second Eye will open soon,” Ginger started. “I’ve noticed a shift in Sleepy Hollow, regardless of what our idiotic council believes.”
Stevie bit her lip and nodded. “I have a weird inkling too. Then there’s this situation with Kit and the warlock. No one’s seen him, but I think he has to be somewhere, waiting to make sure Kit does go to the Hollow.” She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. “Lucia hasn’t had any luck finding his head. Only his ghost one returning briefly before boomeranging back to where it was because of dark magic.”
Ginger nodded, her face softening. “Let me try something since Lucia has opened the gateway a fraction by using the wishbone. Kit, I need you to sit inside the circle once I make it.” She took a jar from the shelf and dipped a paintbrush into the blood and drew a perfect circle.
