A Girl Between (14 page)

I had to admit that I wasn’t as surprised as I sounded about
the witchcraft comment, remembering the regression session I had with Mercy’s
mom, Belinda.  My mother was a condemned witch at that time.  Mercy wasn’t
surprised at all.  She just looked thoughtful.

Miss Cassie took my reaction in stride and then she
continued. “You know, witches have existed since the beginning of time.  The
original purpose of witchcraft was to help the human race survive.  It was very
difficult during the beginning; during the time of the ancients and the
primitives.  Much of the human population died of disease and starvation. 
Witches had practical magical powers for those days; that of healing with
herbs, of the laying of the hands, of overcoming pestilence and tempests.  Witches
helped humankind through some very bad times.”

Mercy quietly asked, “Have witches changed since then?”

Miss Cassie nodded.  “Yes.  You see, in the beginning, all
witches were noble beings.  Their sole interest was in helping others. 
Unfortunately, that changed after a while.  Witches were no longer necessary
for human survival.  From that point on, witches began to change.  Their
special abilities evolved over the years to suit their own individual
inclinations.  Of course, where a witch lived also played a role in what powers
they attained.  Many witches stayed in their helping role.  However, some
witches became corrupt.  They viewed themselves as being ‘above’ others.  They
used their conjuring power only for self-enrichment.”

“Additionally, some witches went beyond simply gaining
riches.  They used their powers to inflict pain and suffering on others. 
Anyone who stepped in their path would be destroyed.  Unfortunately, the only
ones who had the ability to stop them were the good witches, but the good ones
ended up paying a price over the years.  After all, they were busy helping
humans.  They weren’t watching other witches.  During the past times of the
battles between the witches, the good ones have always lost.

“Is that why witches have earned such a bad reputation over
the years?” I questioned.

Miss Cassie nodded.  “That is exactly why.  I would say that
the majority of witches over time have been working for the good of mankind. 
However, you only need a few bad witches to ruin everyone’s reputation.  In
fact, during the times of the big witch hunts, it was always the bad witches
initiating the hunting.  They didn’t want their powers challenged in any way so
they preemptively went after the good witches.  There were periods of time in
human history that witches wouldn’t reveal any of their helping powers such as
healing because they were afraid of being persecuted by the bad witches.  Recently,
we have been seeing more examples of witches who are unaware of their witch
power.  They just go around thinking that they’re crazy.  That is an
evolutionary development in reaction to horrific past life witch prosecutions.”
 Miss Cassie pointedly looked at me.

“Are you referring to me?” I asked.

“Yes, Tess, she is,” Mercy stated bluntly.

Miss Cassie added, “Tess, I hope you know that you have the
makings of a very strong witch.  Have you admitted that to yourself yet?”

“I guess.  I just haven’t put it into words yet,” I mumbled,
still not ready to commit.  NEVER if I had my way, I thought.

Mercy inquired, “So witches have different powers today than
they did in past times?”

“Oh yes, witch magic has evolved quite a bit over the
centuries, although it’s still very individualistic.  Since witches have been
so secretive about their power, over time some of their special abilities have
naturally turned inward.  For example, some witches can ‘scythe’, which means
to read minds.  Some have an ability to tell the future.  In ancient times, I
don’t think that was so.

“Some witches today have great telekinetic powers.  You
don’t hear as much about love potions or spells today, although I presume some
witches still use them.  There are some witches who can affect the weather, by
controlling lightning or bringing on blizzards and tempests.  There are witches
that have abilities with fire and some with water.  Some witches can use
transference.  That means they can project their thoughts, feelings and wishes
onto others as a way of controlling them.  Some witches use transference with
animals.  As far as the ability to heal, that can be stronger in certain areas
of the world than others.  Any of these powers are generally referred to by
humans as “magic.’”

I asked, “Is there a way to tell the good witches from the
bad witches?”

“You can tell by one’s actions.  By now, the ways of the
witches have been set in stone.  They have set their patterns of behavior over
many, many lifetimes.  We have names for the good ones and the bad ones.  Good
witches are referred to as ‘luminars’, since they bring light into the world.
Bad witches are referred to as ‘diaboles’, because they bring evil into the
world.

“Those who are sensitive can also acquire a negative, cold
or ugly sensation from the diaboles, and on the other hand, a positive, warm
feeling from luminars,” Miss Cassie also offered.  Yes, I thought, those were
the positive and negative vibes people refer to.

“Is it possible for someone to change, say, from being a bad
witch to a good witch,” I inquired.

Miss Cassie took a moment to answer.  “I suppose someone
could change.  That would be very unusual.  In fact, I have never heard of it.”

I sat there for a minute, sipping my tea.  Miss Cassie
poured more into my cup.  “Would you each like more pumpkin bread?”

“Yes, I would, please.”

“Thank you, me too,” added Mercy.

“Miss Cassie, can you explain what you know about what
happened at the Tri Town fair?” I asked.

Miss Cassie looked dismayed.  “We know what caused the
destruction at the fair.  It was done by a number of demonic witches.  I
presume they were able to affect the supply of electricity in some way.  Some
witches probably combined their telekinetic powers to influence individual
rides.  They even may have been trying to hurt certain people on those rides.”

“But why?” I asked in a small panicky voice, even though I
had an idea.

“I’m afraid we may be leading up to some very bad times
around here.  This deliberate act of terrifying and hurting innocent people at
the fair was a warning to all good witches.  Stay away or there will be more
death and destruction,” Miss Cassie stated grimly.

I asked, “What do you mean by all witches?  Are there other
witches around here that we don’t know about?”

“Oh, I’m afraid there are,” responded Miss Cassie.

Mercy asked, “Why would someone from the outside get
involved here?”

Miss Cassie sighed and said, “My dear, I don’t think you
understand the gravity of the situation.  Witches, all over the world, are very
sensitive to certain events.  Think about how different a witch’s background is
compared to a regular human being.  Remember that witches have lived all of
their past lives as some form of a witch, whether as a healer, a conjurer, or a
sorcerer.  Since the luminars and the diaboles have been battling it out over
the centuries, their enemies aren’t created over a single lifetime.  They’re
built up over many lifetimes.  After a while, a sense of karma, or payback,
builds up into a frenzy of feuding and hatred that can only be dispelled in one
way.”

“I still don’t understand why they would come here.  What
would they DO here?” Mercy looked puzzled.

“Witches are a crazy lot.  When they have been seriously
wronged as in your case, Tessie, or if they just believe they have been
slighted in some way, THEY NEVER
EVER
FORGET.  They keep their feelings
of persecution under wraps for many lifetimes.  They patiently wait until a
time comes when they can seek their revenge.  This may be one of those times.  When
witches sense a battle brewing they become like sharks smelling fresh blood.”

“You mean that witches may be drawn here from all over the
place in order to get revenge?” Mercy asked, eyes wide open.

“Yes, and this could be the grandest of all battles.  There have
been a few minor witch skirmishes in New England over the past couple of
centuries.  Have you ever heard of the Hartford Circus Fire in the 1940s or the
Boston Molasses Explosion in the early 1900s?  When witches battle, humans pay
a big price.  Fortunately, that collateral damage was minimized.  It could have
been so much worse,” Miss Cassie stated shaking her head matter-of-factly.

“It could have been WORSE?” I shrieked.

Miss Cassie looked at me with dismay.  “Tess, I’m being
honest with you because it’s important that you know everything in order to
protect yourself.  I do understand your fear.  I want you to know that I am
getting a bad sense of what will be coming.  One indication was the train accident
you encountered on your way here.  I’m afraid that was no accident.  Diaboles did
it to be rid of you.  That kind of foresight and planning does not indicate to
me that one quick tragedy will satisfy the witches looking for revenge.  No, no
. .”

“Oh, my, God!  That train accident happened because of ME?  So
they were after me before I even got here?  They almost killed my cousins and
my aunt!”  That was almost too much for me to bear.

Mercy quickly jumped in, “Why else do you think there will
be witch trouble here?”

“There are a few reasons.  We are seeing a close planetary
and lunar alignment with Jupiter, Saturn and Venus.  The cosmic forces from
such alignments can magnify the powers of witches.  The last time that happened
was in 1345.  And, we’re also hearing of unusual witch activity happening
recently around the globe.  It’s because witches sense something is going to
happen. 

“We also get information when witches are in their soul
states during the time of
The Between
.  They have warned us that
hostility has been building between the different groups of witches for
centuries.  We believe events may be coming to a head.

“In retrospect, there were similar ominous signs in the
early 1300s that something big would transpire at that time.  As it turned out,
an event of great magnitude took place in exactly 1345.  That event of witch retribution
occurred 666 years ago. ” Miss Cassie watched us, waiting for the information
to sink in.

“What big event are you talking about?” I asked even though
I felt like bolting out the door.

“That was the time of the
Karmic Apocalypse of the
Wiccans
,” Miss Cassie said softly, her troubled eyes staring at me. “Does
the date 1345 mean anything to you in regards to events of human history?”

I tried to think.  I’ve read about early medieval times but
I’m not sure what that date would mean.  “Does it have anything to do with
witch persecution?” I ventured.

Mercy shouted, “I know!  It has something to do with the
Black Death and the bubonic plague.  I’m always reading about the medieval
times and they’re always talking about the plague.”

“Yes, you are correct Mercy.  The dates for the Black Death
were 1345 to 1353.  You are also correct, Tess.  It was an important time for
witch persecution,” Miss Cassie affirmed.

I wanted to know about that karma or karmic apocalypse she
was talking about.  That sounds awful.  “What about that karma witch thing?” I
asked.

Miss Cassie sighed and then continued, “This is what
happened in the early 1300’s.  There had been extreme witch prosecution in the
13
^th
and 14
^th
centuries.  The general population was led
to believe that all suffering was caused by witches who were in league with the
devil.  This sentiment was usually initiated and promoted by bad witches who
played on the fears of the humans.  They did it because they were constantly
afraid of losing their riches and power.  Thousands of good witches were hunted
down and murdered in horrific ways.

“There was another creature that was hunted down with
witches at that time, as well.  It was the population of domestic and feral
cats.  They were thought to be ‘familiars’ with the witches.  It was believed
that witches could not carry out their spell work without the cats.  We know
that for most witches, this was simply not true.”

Mercy piped in, “What happened to the poor cats?”

“In parts of Europe, they were almost completely
exterminated.  Hundreds of thousands of cats were tortured, burned, hung, or
drowned,” Miss Cassie answered and then she turned back to me.  “Anyway, to
answer your question, the good witches who had remained hidden out of fear
decided that they had to do something because so many of their kin were being
murdered.  They secretly met and decided on a plan of attack.  We don’t know
all of the details, but we do know that they fought fire with fire.  They
turned the tables on the bad ones, accusing THEM of consorting with the devil. 
The good ones used their power to create huge tempests against the estates of
some of the most powerful.  They caused great torment and affliction to their
family members and their animals.

“Of course, the bad ones retaliated and it became a never
ending spiral of vengeance.  THAT is what we call,
The Karmic Apocalypse of
the Wiccans
.  It was such a costly war between the early wiccans.  There
has never been such a violent confrontation between witches since then.  It
finally ended, but there was a horrible price to pay.  Humans ALWAYS pay the
highest price. ” Miss Cassie stopped talking, a frown creasing her forehead.