Page 1 of Cursed Desires
Chapter One
The moon shines bright, bathing the secluded glade in its radiant and mystical luminescence.A chill breeze whispers through the ancient weeping willows and up my spine, carrying with it the fragrance of beautiful night-blooming moonflowers.Their perfume is subtle but sweet and fills my sacred circle with wild, feminine energy.My heart flutters along with the dancing flames of the old beeswax candles—each positioned at one of the five points of my magic pentacle.
Tonight, I’m summoning a companion.A familiar.
As a solo practitioner of the Craft and an alternative individual, I’m normally rather content in my solitude.I’ve never sought a coven or to practice with my sisters, but in recent times I’ve found myself languishing without company.I’ve tried dating my fair share of mortal men, but they are selfish and too modern.They don’t believe in the Old Ways and make a mockery of me.
So, in place of a friend or paramour, I’d love it if one of the wild forest spirits deigned to take the form of an owl, or a cat, maybe even a raven or rat—just another living creature with whom I could spend my time and build a lasting connection.Another soul to share my time and heart.
Standing at the center of my circle of salt, I raise the small silver bell I’ve brought for the summoning.“I am Mara Coleman and I call upon the spirits of the wild,” I say, ringing the bell once, its clean, high-pitched tone a clarion song in the quiet.“I have come in search of an animal companion with whom to share my home and heart.”I ring the bell again, following the ways of the ancient ritual.“I mean you well and will protect you from all harm.”I ring the bell a third and final time.“Join me in a partnership of your own free will and we will be bound forevermore.So mote it be.”
The candles of my magic circle flare high and strong before a strong gust of wind extinguishes them with a single midnight breath.Alone in the darkness, I smile to myself, content in the knowledge that I’ve been heard.Now, all that remains is to sit and await the fulfillment of my wish.Crossing my legs on the damp, leaf-strewn earth, I adjust my black skirts, relax my shoulders, and close my eyes with perfect trust.Now is the time for patience.
I can’t help but wonder what physical form my familiar will take.A smile-inducing mix of excitement and happiness bubbles within me and I send out a silentthank youto the spirits of All Hallows’ Eve for their acknowledgement of my heart’s desire.
I wait patiently as the minutes draw out, languishing and slowly ticking by into hours.Soon the moon has reached its zenith and begun to wane as the dark hours of the morning make their presence known.I feel the brisk chill of fall deep into my bones and my ass is uncomfortably wet, my skirt having wicked up the moisture in the earth.My heart does a little momentary flip flop of defeat, but I bolster myself and draw in a deep breath of chilly air.Don’t be like that,Mara, I chide myself.All things happen in their own time, and not always when we want them to.Magic is an arcane art, not an instant or exact science, after all.
Collecting my paraphernalia, I sling my purple velvet rucksack over my shoulder and use my boot to break the circle and disperse the salt among the colorful autumn leaves.“Merry meet and merry part,” I say aloud.“And Happy Halloween!”Turning on my heels, I begin the walk back through the shadowed woods and to my humble little cottage on the lonely outskirts of Salem.The Witch Trials might have driven out and persecuted most of the witches—but not all.Some members of the great families never left, and I am one of them.Of my kin, I alone chose to remain.
The oldest covens are gone now, the memories for them are far too painful and etched too deep to linger here.So, they have traveled far and wide, setting down roots across the country in search of serenity and new beginnings.The few witches I know in town are, like me, solitary, choosing to pay homage to our ancient traditions in peace.We respect one another’s beliefs and privacy, only venturing into each other’s lives seldomly, when the annual cycles and celebrations mean we’re foraging, or shopping at similar times.And that’s a part of what brought tonight’s nocturn activities to fruition.It’d be nice to not feel so alone...
Eddies of crisp, fallen leaves and fresh flower petals swirl and dance on the wind as I sigh and open my garden gate.The hinges protest and creak, adding to the spooky atmosphere of a night that already feels positively alive with magic.The element of air is mine and always grounds me, connecting me with esoteric energies always present, but forever unseen.Just as I turn to re-latch the gate behind me, a black shadow brushes by me, bounding up the steps to my red front door.
My eyes widen, my heart skips a beat, and my breath hitches in my throat as I walk slowly up my worn cobblestone path.Clear as day, a beautiful black cat sits on my wooden porch, its glossy fur boasting a breathtaking blue sheen beneath the moonlight.“Hello, there,” I say, squatting on the steps and offering out my hand, hovering patiently.“Are you here for me?”I ask.I can’t hide the quick grin that splits my face a moment later as the collarless feline nuzzles me affectionately.His magnificent golden yellow eyes regard me with a deep and uncanny wisdom and my soul sings.
It worked!One of the spirits of the wild has answered my call!I crow inside.I have a familiar!Finally.Giving the friendly cat another quick scratch behind the ears, I rise to my feet and unlock the front door, flicking on the light switch by the threshold.The black cat looks up at me as if awaiting permission before setting foot inside.“Go ahead and make yourself at home,” I invite.“We’ll catch a chill out here.”Closing the door behind me, I hang up my coat and slip out of my boots.
The cat walks around my living space, then jumps up onto my altar.He places himself squarely at the center of the purple and silver embroidered ceremonial cloth and meets my gaze.“Hey!Get your furry little butt off my altar, you cheeky thing!”I say with a playful tone, before pressing my finger to my lips in thought.“Hm.So, what are we going to call you?”I ask.“Do you have a name, beautiful one?”Never one to ignore subtle signs, I swear the cat inclines its head ever so subtly, and the name ‘Salem’ pops into my head out of nowhere.
“Salem?”I ask, scrunching my nose in amusement as my brows furrow.“You’re named after the town?”I muse.“Or did someone name you after the cat from that teenage witch sitcom?Either way, a name is a name, I suppose ...and if yours is Salem, then Salem you’ll be!”I conclude.
Chapter Two
Setting down my things, glad to be relieved of my burdens, I smile at my familiar as I walk into the kitchen.“Do you want some warm milk?”I ask.“Of course you do.”I fetch a small bowl from the cupboard and fill it, heating the milk in the microwave for thirty seconds just to remove the chill from it.Then, setting it down on the wood-topped counter, I sigh, looking at my familiar expectantly.“Well, come on then,” I encourage.Salem jumps up with natural grace and nuzzles my hand again, then sits to lap up his creamy white gold.“You’re such a pretty boy,” I coo appreciatively.“Thank you for choosing me.”
Salem arches his back into my gentle strokes as he drinks, the picture of contentment.With a smile on my face, I reheat my still half-full abandoned cup of peppermint tea and sip at the sugary sweet and refreshing flavor.For several minutes I simply watch my handsome cat, so grateful that I chose to go ahead with my summoning ritual despite my initial misgivings.It’s been a while since I last cast real magic, and I had my doubts I could do it.I usually leave the workings of the universe to their own ends and just observe seasonal celebrations and moon phases...So, my ritual was my first time dipping into the arcane energy pool since I was a teenager.
