MIDNIGHT MAGIC - ch 18

MIDNIGHT MAGIC – ch 18

Julie

(*)(*)(*)

Finola leaned against the wall, crossed her arms over her chest, sighed and said, “Cormac, we’ll begin with you since you’ll be the easiest. Ah, my old friend, although we were never really friends. I see the recognition in your eyes. The final understanding that white always conquers. Let us begin.”

She walked to where Cormac was sitting, placed the palm of her left hand on his head and declared:

“Cormac, we’ve had a lengthy conversation earlier this evening,” She grinned, “although, I’m not sure you could call it a conversation. I suppose most would label it an interrogation. Either way, it was very interesting and insightful. After you left Ireland, I never gave you a second thought. Perhaps I should have kept track of you but then, you were only beginning to dabble in the dark aspects of magic. Having more important things on my mind, you certainly were never important enough to occupy a speck of my thoughts. And yet, now, after all this time, here you are.

Now, you’ve put me in the position of demonstrating the powers I have that you so desperately wanted but never knew how to obtain.”

Her face almost glowed with magic.

“Remember, Cormac, that while the dark side will infuse harm and hurt to anyone, white magic insists on harm to no one. Breaking that vow means that we break our bond with the God and Goddess who rule over us all.

That said, it’s time to begin.”

She kept her left hand on the top of his head, outstretched her right arm with palm up and raised, and said:

“Cormac, no longer with powers of any kind,

As your body weakens, so will your mind.

You’ll live your life as an ordinary man,

Remembering nothing, though trying hard as you can.

This is the future for you, that I see.

So, I desire it; so, mote it be!”

Everyone in the room watched as his eyes, once fierce with anger, dimmed to a blank, confused stare. It was as though he were trying to determine where he was and why. However, Finola wasn’t quite done.

“Cormac, the finality of this spell is this:

You’ll return to the home where you once were a child.

You’ll toil with your hands; your chores won’t be mild.

You’ll work from sun-up until the sun goes down.

But you’ll never leave your childhood town.

Your powers erased, as you will see.

This I desire; So, mote it be!

One thing you’ll remember as each day is done –

You’ll never forget that my white magic won.”

She stepped back, then slowly walked to her door. Without looking back, she opened it and commanded, “Cormac, you’re free to return to the home you once shared in Bray with your maam and da. Go! Before I change my mind!”

They watched as the invisible binding and silence spells were released. As he stood, he first shook his arms and legs, realizing suddenly how stiff they felt. His eyes looked blankly at everyone. Then, he walked towards the open door and looked at Finola. With a confused sounding voice that almost trembled, he whispered, “Who are you? You look familiar, like I’ve seen you before, but I can’t remember where, when, or, for that matter, why? I’m sure we’ve met, somewhere.”

Finola’s grin was slightly mischievous, as she replied , “That almost-memory will haunt you for the rest of your days. Now, go!”

“Aintin?” Jules began to ask, “Is Bray far? Don’t misunderstand. I wouldn’t care if he had to walk to Timbuktu but if he had a car, where is it?”

Mia answered, “Aintin? Would you mind if I told her?”

“Mo ghra, go right ahead.”

“Jules, remember when you first got to Ireland? After we visited my mom at the,” she glanced at Tony, then was more careful with the words she chose, “at my mom’s work, we came home and that’s when you met Aintin. She, uh, requested we go to her house. An emergency, she said. Remember?”

“Oh, my god, Mia, I’d forgotten about that. What a ride! But what does that have to do with Cormac?”

“He got here the same way.”

Julie was stunned and all she could think of saying, was a quiet, “Oh.”

They watched as Finola placed the palm of her right hand on his shoulder and gently urged him to walk through the doorway. As he walked down the pathway from her house, he looked back but still had no idea why he was there. Shaking his head in total confusion, he began the long walk back to Bray.

Finola slowly closed the door until she heard the gentle click of the door’s latch.

With a smile on her face, she abruptly turned away. Walking to her pantry where she gathered the bottle of Hennessey and eight glasses, she suggested, “Liz, my stor, please grab the pitcher of cold tea from the fridge. I think Jules could use a refill about now, and I’m sure Mia would enjoy a glass of wine or perhaps,” she looked at her great-niece with a loving smile, “a mug of Guinness. Mia, what would you prefer?”

Mia didn’t hesitate when she said, “I’d love a cold Guinness, Aintin.”

Morena tried to stifle a giggle but failed. “Well, then, we’ll all toast to a successful evening.”

Finola mumbled, “Oh, precious family, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

Only Mia and Midnight heard the words and while Mia had not yet learned to read her aunt’s mind, had no doubt that whatever was about to happen would be something none of them would soon forget.

It was at that point when Midnight padded her way to Finola. If cats could stomp their paws, Midnight would have. Instead, she demanded to know, “Aintin, you didn’t let me bite him! Why? I wanted to bite him! He deserved to be bitten. Now, he’s gone, and I can’t! Can I please bite one of these humans? Please?”