Tianna Logan and the Salem Academy for Witchcraft

By Timothy Everhart

After her parents are killed, Tianna Logan is left in the care of her grandmother. She is to attend the Salem Academy for Witchcraft. While at the School, Tianna makes many new friends...and stumbles into adventure at every turn. With the help of her friends, Tianna learns a little more about the night her parents died, and a book is discovered, hidden in a room at the Academy. Tianna is stunned to discover that the book belongs to her. Tianna and her friends soon uncover a plot to attack the school. Now, their skills will be put to the test to ensure the future of the Salem Academy for Witchcraft.

America has its own school for young Witches and Wizards, the Salem Academy for Witchcraft. Inside the sleepy little town of Salem Massachusetts, there's a certain alley where the end is really a gateway to another world, a magical realm full of mystical creatures and beings of all descriptions. Inside this magical world is the best school for witches and wizards in america. Some consider it to be the best school for witchcraft and wizardry in the entire world. They teach the young witches and wizards how to master their budding magical abilities and get control of the accidental magic that's happening to them anyway.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Timothy Everhart
• Release date: Feb 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301344307

Timothy Everhart

I was raised in a playful environment that fostered imagination and I had a very rich imaginary life. I created all of these fantasy worlds and spent hour after hour for days on end playing in them. My family didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up and there wasn’t so much stuff to buy then even for the ones that did, so my imagination was my main resource.Everything is so very commercialized today, most kids can’t seem to play without all of the high tech toys, video games and computers. I feel that this is the great tragedy of our time. The kids of today are robbed in a sense that they are not given that opportunity to develop their imaginations in the way we did. When I was young we had AM radios and black and white TV’s that got only three channels, none of which had anything on them for a kid to watch except of Saturday mornings. Therefore we had to create our own games, toys, even our own worlds to play in, our imagination was king.Once I discovered the world of books, that opened up new avenues for me. Books enabled me to use the author’s imagination to stimulate my own and therefore create even more fantasy worlds to explore and have my mental adventures in. By now it seems that I have always been around books. My parents believed in reading, mom had me reading when most of my friends were just learning their ABC’s. When I started formal school in the first grade she had me reading on a third grade level. By then I was thoroughly hooked and I can’t remember a time since then that I wasn’t in the middle of a book.From the time I turned eight I was already making up my own stories and putting them down on paper. I always knew that I wanted to be an author and I did manage to get a few short stories published while I was still young. But back in the sixties and early seventies it was impossible to get a novel published without an agent and nearly impossible to get an agent. Then, when I was sixteen I made one of the more stupid mistakes of my life, I quit school. It doesn’t matter that I went back in a few years and got my diploma and entered college, the damage had already been done. Because of that mistake no agent would even talk to me let alone read one of my manuscripts and after a few years I gave up trying to get published and settled on becoming a storyteller. However, no matter how slight was the chance of getting published, I never stopped writing.By the time my parents house burned in 1978, I had over thirty stories and a very good start on three novels; two science fictions and one fantasy. All of my work was stored in their home and just like everything else in the house when it caught fire, was lost. After that loss, I really did quit writing for a long time. Oh, I still made up the stories and spent many a hour spinning the tales to anyone who’d listen, I just didn’t write them down anymore.Finally, a man that I’d first met in 1976, convinced me to not only start writing again, but to start trying to get them published. Read about him HERE. My first published novel, “Tianna Logan and the Salem Academy for Witchcraft” is actually comprised of several of my tales that I’ve told for years about a school for Witchcraft and Wizardry in Salem Massachusetts. A very large number of the stories that I’ve ever written were about witches, wizards, sorcerers, alchemists, dragons, unicorns, basically all things magical with a little sci-fi thrown in from time to time. So it stands to reason that the first full length novel I would get published would be about the magical realm and the second one is well underway as I write this.

Book preview

Tianna Logan and the Salem Academy for Witchcraft

Tianna Logan and the Salem Academy for Witchcraft

Published by Timothy Craig Everhart at Smashwords 2013

ISBN: 9781301344307

Copyright © Timothy Craig Everhart, 2010. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author/publisher.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Books by Timothy Craig Everhart

Tianna Logan and the Salem Academy for Witchcraft

Tianna Logan goes to Camp Weeping Willow

A Welder’s Handbook to Robotic Programming

Books by Timothy Craig Everhart written

with his wife Dawn Michelle Everhart

Down Home Southern Cooking

Down Home Southern Cooking 2

Down Home Southern Cooking 3

Fun Foods

The Cook’s Companion

Books Coming Soon by Timothy Craig Everhart

Tianna Logan faces Armageddon

Lean Manufacturing for Everyone

Dedications

A first book carries a large burden of gratitude. I’d like to dedicate this book to my loving wife, Michelle and my three kids: Angela, Chelae, and Anthony. Without their steady support, patience, and encouragement, I would have never finished it.

I offer a special thank you to my friend Matt Benner for critiquing the earlier versions of the book. His skills as a wordsmith, knowledge of the world of witchcraft, and excellent suggestions proved to be very valuable and needed.

I’d also like to offer a note of appreciation to my editor, Jordy Albert, without her sharp eye and hard work this book would not be nearly as fun to read.

I have pledged 10 percent of the royalties generated by the sales of this book to Kyle Petty's Victory Junction Gang Camp. This camp has touched the lives of more than 10,000 children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses and their families. I am proud to offer my support to the camp.

Prologue

Salem Massachusetts September 23, 1692

In the old Proctor barn, at the edge of the dark wood, two women crept in the side door. Eleven others were huddled in the darkest corner, shivering in the dampness, a single candle providing a dim light. Dorcas Hoar stood up, the relief evident on her face.

You made it, so we’re all here.

All? Lydia questioned.

This is all that’s left of our coven, Dorcas confirmed. We number only thirteen now.

We lost five last night! Priscilla Mullins exclaimed as she got to her feet. Martha, Margaret, Mary, Alice, and Ann, they’ve strung’em all up at Gallows Hill.

Ann Sears also gained her feet. How dost the Hunter know? Before he arrived they were just shedding themselves of the old grouches and in-laws, but this one, he knows; how dost he divine that we are the ones that they seek?

Becky Good remained seated as all the rest stood. We must scatter; flee from this Hunter, whoever…whatever he is. Another couple of weeks, and they’ll have us all. We must escape or we all shall die.

Dorcas shook her head. I don’t think that would do any good, this Witch Hunter appears to be able to find us even in hiding. Don’t forget, he found Rebecca Nurse and she was hiding out in the old bear cave on the other side of Boxford. Nay, we can’t run nor hide, but I may have chanced upon an answer in here. She picked up an old burlap sack and took out an ancient leather-bound spell book. There’s a spell scribed in this that may give us a place to hide. It takes thirteen witches, so if we are to do it, it must be tonight, before the hunter points out another of us.

What book is that? Lydia asked. I don’t recognize it.

It’s the one that’s come down through my line since the turn of the millennium; it’s over six hundred years old. It may have been nearly that long since this spell was last used, and it wasn’t intended to be used on an entire village, just a building or a small area, but I think it’s our only chance if we are to survive this ordeal.

What exactly does it do? Priscilla asked.

It recreates the object or area in question in a world that is alongside, just below or a step above this one. Using this spell, we shall remake Salem Village in this other world, one without the people. A Salem without the Hunter; Governor Sir William Phips, or Chief Justice Stoughton to try us for witchcraft; a refuge where we can be safe again, Dorcas explained. I’ve written down all thirteen incantations on separate pieces of parchment. She pulled them out of her pocket and started handing them out. You have about two hours; we must begin at the stroke of midnight. Learn your part well and we’ll create a haven to ride out this terrible storm.

Each took out a small candle, lit it, and then sat down to study their part of the spell. Their lips were moving silently, repeating the words until they knew them as well as their own names, each of them realizing that this may possibly be the most important spell that they would ever cast.

Dorcas took one last glance at the time piece hanging from her neck and said. It’s time. Gather around this circle I’ve scratched on the ground. Sit with your legs folded and your candle in front of you. When they were all spaced evenly around the circle, she explained how the spell was to be done. Each of your incantations is a note. Lydia, you lead off, once you start to repeat yours Priscilla will begin hers, and so on around the circle until you create a perfect twelve-point harmony. Then I’ll begin the main body of the spell. If this works, we should know when to stop.

The barn was as silent as a grave, as if even the insects knew what was about to take place. One by one, they began, even though the candles continued to burn dimly, the barn got brighter with each new voice. As soon as Dorcas joined them, a column of light appeared in the center of the circle. It was so bright that nothing but the light could be seen. The column began to swell, engulfing the witches, then the barn. It grew until it engulfed Salem completely.

Dorcas was the first to awaken. She lay there listening to a bird chirping and a squirrel barking. Looking towards the door she noticed the sunlight coming through the cracks. Did it work? Almost as an echo to that thought, Priscilla asked aloud, Did it work?

Unknown.

That light, I never knew light could be that intense, Priscilla commented, her voice still a little shaky.

Yes, Dorcas agreed. So bright that it ought to have burned our eyes out, but it didn’t even hurt.

No, it didn’t. The brighter it got, the softer the light seemed to be.

Lydia, awake and listening, spoke up. It washed out everything until you couldn’t see anything except the light itself.

Well, Dorcas began as she stood up. Wake the others, we aren’t going to find out anything laying here speculating, we best be moving on.

They walked along the deeply rutted, tree lined road that led into Salem. They had heard not a sound that did not belong to the wood, the animals, birds, and the rustle of leaves in the morning breeze. They had passed two farm houses along the way that appeared to be completely deserted; but then the Proctors and the Smiths were noted to be early risers. They could reasonably be expected to be in Salem already.

Up ahead, an opossum stopped in the middle of the road and looked back at them before scurrying on across and into the wood. It doesn’t seem to have affected the birds or animals, Lydia observed.

Becky swatted her neck. Or the insects either.

It wasn’t supposed to, Dorcas told her.

They rounded a slight bend in the road and before them was the blacksmith shop. As one, they came to a halt. There was no smoke, the forge was cold. George always fired the forge before daybreak.

Anne touched Dorcas on the arm. I’ll take a look. She ran up ahead and into the shop.

They heard her calling to George as she went through the shop and up the trail to the house, then a couple more times inside the house. A few minutes later she walked back down to the shop where the rest had gathered. He’s not there, nor is his things. There’s nothing. It’s not like he’s gone, it’s like he was never here. The wardrobe, cupboards…all bare. The furniture is there, but little else.

The smithy tools are here, Lydia swept her arm around the shop. but no personal items at all.

Let’s walk on up into Salem, and take stock, Dorcas said as they stepped back out to the road. We must be certain, sisters, but I believe we’ve done it.

At the edge of the village they split up, going through the houses, shoppes, even the tavern and the church, but all proved to be just as empty as the blacksmith shop, everything was here, except the people and their belongings.

They all gathered in the town square. Lydia sounded concerned. It worked. We’re safe, but are we stuck here too?

No, Dorcas said as she patted the burlap sack with the spell book inside. In here are instructions on how to create portals between the worlds, doorways that only we can see and use. This new Salem is ours, only for the Witches. We are safe at last!

Chapter One

Danvers, Massachusetts August 15, Present Day.

It was an antique, four poster bed built entirely out of red cedar hearts. It had a pure white canopy with veils made of hand-made lace tied back to the posts. If the veils were released, they would have enclosed the entire bed in a curtain of lace.

In the center of the bed, on top of a beautiful comforter, sat a young girl, her legs folded and her back straight, she was reading a book that lay open on her lap. At first glance, no one would have noticed anything strange, but if one looked a little closer, they’d see that the book wasn’t really lying on her lap but was actually resting slightly above it. Also, if you studied the direction of her eyes as they wandered back and forth across the pages, you’d see that when her gaze finally reached the bottom, the page simply flipped over by itself.

Her long, blond, straight hair was tied back into a loose pony tail with a piece of red yarn. Her arms were slightly bent at the elbows, hands lightly cupping her knees, totally relaxed. It looked as if she could sit like that for hours on end. She appeared to be very tranquil and calm. One might think that she was at peace with the world. In fact, the only indication that all was not as it seemed was her glistening baby blue eyes. They were brimming with unshed tears, pooling up until finally a single tear rolled down each cheek.

Suddenly, without warning, the book slammed shut and hurled itself across the room, and smashed into the vanity’s mirror with a loud crash. The impact shattered the glass and sent small razor sharp slivers of the mirror all over the vanity and the floor.

The girl that was only moments ago so calm and relaxed was now beating her fists on the bed and sobbing uncontrollably.

The door to her room suddenly flew open, seemingly of its own accord. Then her grandmother, gasping, out of breath from running up the steps, swiftly burst into the room. Are you all right? she began, and then looked around at the mess, the book underneath it, then at her granddaughter. Oh, Tianna. She went over to the bed, sat down beside her and hugged Tianna tight. It’ll be okay

Nothing is going to be okay, ever again! Tianna cried out.

It just takes time honey.

Forever wouldn’t be enough time, said Tianna defiantly, twisting herself out of her grandmother’s arms.

She was your mother, and you loved her dearly…but she was my only child, and so did I. Honestly, I feel the hurt at least as much as you do, but life must go on, Sweetie. What do you think your mother would say to you right now, or your father? Anne challenged her granddaughter.

Tianna looked away. Her eyes downcast as she said, You’re right, Grandma, I apologize. I guess I’m just feeling sorry for myself. I miss them so very much.

Anne put a finger under her granddaughter’s chin and pulled her head up. Don’t apologize to me, girl. Do you think that I don’t cry myself to sleep every night, and have, ever since it happened?

Tianna looked into her grandmother’s eyes, which were now leaking tears as well. I know, I hear you sometimes, she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

I loved your mother deeply, a part of me died with her, but we must go on, we’ll always hold them both in here, she said, clutching her breast. Downstairs in the kitchen a teapot started whistling. Hear that? Let’s go have a cup of tea. I’ve got something to talk to you about and as the old saying goes, there’s no time like the present. Anne took a tissue out of her apron pocket and dried Tianna’s eyes. You go wash your face and I’ll go get the tea. Meet you at the table.

Tianna left the room first, and then just before Anne left she waved her arm in a sweeping gesture and mumbled a few words under her breath, then as she walked away, the door swung shut by itself. All of the little pieces of the shattered mirror began to tremble. One by one, each piece floated up and took its place in the reforming mirror. Slowly at first, then faster and faster until there was only one small piece missing from the bottom right-hand corner. It lay on top of the book, quivering; finally it slid across the book, shot up and snapped into place. There wasn’t so much as a blemish to show what had just happened to the antique vanity’s mirror in the last few moments.

Anne was just setting the teacups and pot on the table when Tianna walked in and sat down. Cookies? she asked.

No, Tianna said with a shake of her head. I can’t eat.

Me neither, Anne agreed as she pushed the tray back.

Tianna filled her tea cup about three quarters full, then carefully dropped in two cubes of sugar. She knocked them around with the spoon until they dissolved. Then she drizzled in just barely enough sweet cream to cloud the tea. She picked up the cup and blew across the surface of the hot liquid to cool it slightly while the cream slowly spread through the tea on its own before tasting it.

Her grandmother smiled as she watched Tianna. Your mother used to make a big production out of mixing her tea, much as you do, when she was a little girl.

She still does…, her voice faded away when she realized. Always did, she corrected herself.

It’s going to take awhile, but you’ll see, one day we’ll have all of the fond memories, without seeing them through a veil of hurt and pain.

I sure hope so, ‘cause right now I can’t even think about mom and dad without crying, Tianna admitted. What was it that you need to talk to me about?

For a moment, Anne didn’t reply. She spoke only after choosing her words carefully. Tianna, I love you tremendously, and you’ll always have a place here in my home, but I cannot continue home schooling you like your mother was doing, you are going to have to go to school, she explained, then waited for the inevitable retort.

But you home schooled mom! Tianna was so shocked, that she dropped her spoon into the tea cup, nearly toppling it over in the process.

Honey, that was over thirty-five years ago. Anne got up and started pacing around the kitchen as she explained. I’m far too old, much too tired and quite frankly, they are teaching you things that I don’t even know how to do myself. At fourteen, you’re using magic that I didn’t even try until I was an adult. I just can’t do it. I know our family has always been home schooled. I did it for your mother as mine did it for me and hers did it for her. If I would have had other children, there would be an aunt or uncle to take over, but I just can’t, girl. She held up her hand to forestall the argument that she could see about to burst out of her young granddaughter. You are going to have to go to school. It was a flat statement in a tone that Tianna had heard before, and she knew it would be fruitless to argue the point. You’re going to the Salem Academy for Witchcraft & Wizardry.

But, Grandma, you can’t, you just can’t, she whined.

I’ve got no choice, Tianna. You’re going to be a particularly powerful witch one day, but you need the proper training and I can’t give it to you. It’s a very good school; in fact, it’s a great school. I know many people that have gone through it and they all turned out to be excellent witches. Your father went there for ten years, graduated with honors in fact. I even know the headmistress and a couple of the teachers there. They’re good people. I know you’ll do wonderfully; I’m sure of it. She sat back down. I’ve already called and set it up. You start in two weeks. It will help you to work through this mess in your head too.

All right. There was a resigned tone in Tianna’s voice. I guess I should’ve seen it coming. I wish, but… She drank the rest of her now cooling tea. I guess you’re right, at least I’ve got two more weeks here with you, a little more time to kinda get used to the idea.

We’ve got to go to Salem next week. When I signed you up they gave me a list of school supplies that you are going to need to start at the academy. Did your mother ever take you with her when she went to Purveyor Avenue in New Salem?

You’re talking about that little cobblestone path with all of the magical stores? Yeah, they’ve got everything there. Is that where we have to get my supplies?

It’s not the only place that we could get them from, but it is the best. It’s where I go to replenish all of my magical supplies.

What all do I have to get? Tianna asked.

Here’s the list. She handed her the parchment. It felt somewhat brittle and the list was written in a bright violet ink that seemed to glow with a light of its own.

The Salem Academy for Witchcraft & Wizardry

Tianna Logan (Books and Supplies)

Spells and Incantations by Miranda Zippin

Beginners Spell Casting by Gwyn Ash

Invocation vs. Evocation by Emerald Birch

Magic and the Zodiac by Newt Dantzig

Controlling Free Energy by Lughe Culbreath

Fundamentals of Broom riding by Hannah Thornwell

12 two-ounce Vials (lead crystal)

1 three-inch crystal ball

Standard personal Cauldron set

A pre-charged wand

Scales (balance or digital)

Six black Robes w/inner vial pockets and wand holder

Black hat w/small student brim

(Optional) Salem Cell Phone

There is also something else that I wish to discuss with you.

What is it?

"It’s about the way your mother and father died. The High Council is convinced that your mother’s fire-starting abilities backfired on her. It’s a rare ability, and I know it has happened with others, but your mother had far too much control over her powers for it to be a backfire. She never had accidents, not even at night while she was dreaming, never once. I tried telling that to the High Council, but their minds were already made up," she snapped angrily, still furious with the Council.

But if…how did they burn up then? Tianna asked, puzzled by this new information about her parents’ death.

They didn’t burn up, nothing in that house was scorched, now I may not know exactly what happened in that house, but there was certainly no fire, her grandmother grumbled irritably.

Well, what do you think happened to them, Grandma?

I don’t know, girl, I just know that it wasn’t an accident. I think that they were killed, murdered, pure and simple. I don’t know why, or by whom. Your mother’s magic was so strong, as was your father’s. It would have taken a powerful witch to have defeated them both. That’s yet another reason for me to get you into the academy at Salem. I don’t want an accident happening to you. The school is well protected, far more security than I could provide. Go, be safe, learn all you can; then maybe one day you’ll get a chance to even the score.

Modern-day Salem, Massachusetts, is not the Salem Village of years past. It’s a modern if not large city with all of the hustle and bustle that goes along with being a twenty-first century city. Sidewalks crowded with people running here and there, traffic buzzing all over the roads, everyone in a hurry, even the ones that really have nowhere to go.

An old ‘87’ model Volvo whipped off of Fifth Street into a short, narrow alleyway between two old buildings. It was barely a hundred feet long, but the Gold Volvo was accelerating like it was going to get on an interstate highway.

Ned Parker was the town wino. He normally sleeps off his drunken spells in an alley and was just settling down in a dark doorway when the Volvo shot past. Ned knew he was near the end of the alley, and that there was no way that car could possibly stop in time, so he got up to leave. Wrecks always brought the cops and there would go his nap. As he stepped back into the alleyway, he realized that he should’ve already heard the crash. He slowly turned his head and looked, but all he could see was the end of the alley not thirty feet away, but no car. Now Ned knew that he was drunk, but there was no way that the Gold car could have stopped in time. There was no way that it could have turned around in the narrow alley, and there was no way it could have possibly doubled back without him seeing it.

The half bottle of Ripple slipped between his fingers and exploded as it hit the pavement, splashing the pale, red liquid all over his pant legs. This might be the day, Ned thought. After fifteen long years, this is a real good day to quit drinking.

Right after the Volvo went through the brick wall and into New Salem, Tianna told her grandmother, That freaks me out every time I go through there. Aren’t you afraid that some time it won’t open?

It doesn’t open. That wall is not there. And it’s not a door, it’s a hole.

It’s there for the humans.

No, the spell is there, and even we can see the illusion, but it’s just a spell. There is no wall, Tianna, it’s just a hole. Or depending on how you look at it, a tunnel, leading into New Salem.

It still freaks me out every time.

The Volvo came to a stop in a huge field full of cars and flattened grass. The original Salem Village ended where Fifth Street is now, and in this Salem it still does. Anne parked between a big Cadillac Escalade and a Benz. They got out and walked into Salem. Modern vehicles were not allowed in this Salem. The most modern type of vehicle permitted is a bicycle, and you didn’t see many of them either. You do see quite a few horse drawn carriages carrying some of the witches that live here, to and fro, but the horses are not real. And well, neither are most of the carriages.

As they walked into Salem, her grandmother told her, You’ll need money while you’re at the academy, so the first stop will be the bank. We’ll get you a debit card you can use here for your supplies, and then keep while you’re at the academy.

A debit card? But I don’t have any money in the bank.

Girl, your parents weren’t poor in the human’s world, but in here, they were rich. It’s all yours now; we just need to get you a card leading into the account.

I remember mom explaining that the money in here is different… wait, did you say rich?

Yes Tianna, rich, more than you could possibly spend in a lifetime. And yes, it is different; here they use Gold Standard Weights: pounds, ounces, and hundredths. Actually you have tons. We’ll get the exact balance when we get the card, but you won’t need for anything that you can’t afford.

The bank looked like any small town human bank on the outside, except for the name across the top in huge stone letters, WITCHES AND WIZARDS NATIONAL. At first glance, the inside didn’t look all that different either, except that all of the teller stations had an impressive looking set of scales hooked into their computers.

When they first walked in, Tianna didn’t notice the sinister looking Gargoyles on either side of the door. When she did see them, she assumed that they were just statues. But out of the corner of her eye she saw one of them raise a radio to its mouth and speak into it. Tianna jumped and gave a little gasp as she realized that they were alive.

Anne looked to see what had caused her granddaughter to jump. Realizing it was one of the gargoyles, she commented, Everyone that needs a guard now hires the gargoyles. Best you can get for the money though.

They’re scary enough. Tianna said shivering, as she looked at the one talking on the radio. Even though it was moving, its skin had a stone look to it.

Anne looked at the one that had startled Tianna and replied, I guess they are at that, Sweetie.

Tianna rounded on her. Don’t call me that!

I’m sorry, dear, I know better, but ever since you were a little baby I have been calling you that, and it just slips out occasionally. I’m sorry, I’ll try to stop, promise, she apologized with resolve, making the cross-your- heart motion with her right hand.

One of the bankers got up from his desk in the back and quickly came towards them. Anne, I haven’t seen you since…I’m sorry…How are you dear?

Better now, Teever. Time is already beginning to do its work, she told him as he hugged her casually. For a while there after losing Lydia and Grayson…, she let her voice trail off. Facing her granddaughter, she said, Tianna and I have helped pull each other through.

Teever Loze stepped back as if to get a better look. You do look remarkably like your mother. Well, I’ll expect you’ll be needing to get a card then.

Yes, Tianna starts at the academy in two weeks, so we need to go ahead and get her supplies. Would it be possible to get it today?

Normally it takes a couple of days, but for Lydia’s kid, just have a seat. I’ll take care of it personally, Teever said as he hurried off again.

He seems to know you, mom, and dad pretty well, Tianna remarked.

Well, Teever has known me for over forty years, but everyone in Salem knew or at least knew of your mom and dad. For that matter, the names Lydia and Grayson Logan are known throughout the whole world. Didn’t they ever tell you what they were doing? Anne asked her.

They said that they were finding other hidden places like Salem here, but that’s all that they ever said.

That’s true, but as the old saying goes, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Until your mom and dad came along, most of these witch communities were isolated, completely cut off. Most didn’t even know that the others existed. The people here at Salem thought that they were the only ones for over three hundred years. It was also thought that when New Salem was created, this realm was created too. Your mom and dad changed all that. They figured out that this is just the magical realm, that it’s been here all along, and a new version of Salem was simply created in it. Lydia told me that once they discovered this they knew that there had to be other communities like Salem, and places that existed here naturally. They started looking for and actually finding them. They also started up lines of communications and trade; we’re becoming a worldwide community now, in the human world and here in the magical realm. If Salem weren’t so physically secluded in the magical realm, we would have known long before now, but we are hundreds of miles from anything else.

Wow, I never knew that they discovered all of that!

I’m sure that they didn’t want to sound like they were bragging, tooting their own horns as it were. The thing is, just about everywhere you will go…

They’ll know mom and dad, Tianna finished for her.

Tianna spotted the banker hurrying back across to them. He was holding a shiny new gold card. Here you go, Tianna Logan. This is good anywhere in Salem.

Teever, I forgot to mention that she wanted to know the balance too, Anne said.

Got it right here, somewhere. He searched through his pockets until he found a paper with some numbers scribbled on it. Two hundred-thousand, seven-hundred and ninety-two pounds, and thirteen point thirty three ounces.

Thank you so very much, Teever, I’d love to stay and talk awhile but we’ve got a lot of shopping to do today.

Directly across from the bank there was a stone arch spanning the space between two buildings. It was the entrance to a cobblestone avenue that had small shops lining both sides for as far as the eye could see. Swinging under the arch was an old wooden sign that had ‘Purveyors Avenue’ burned into it. The avenue itself was about twelve feet wide. It was not straight like most streets, but curved first this way and that, around the trees, the bushes, and some rather large boulders. There were tables and park benches in front of some of the shops and under the shade of the trees. Many of these were occupied as Tianna and Anne walked down the lane. Tianna and her grandmother were dressed in regular clothes, whereas here mostly everyone was dressed in long flowing robes and tall pointed hats and some of the most outrageous colors you could imagine.

Whispering to her grandmother, Tianna commented softly, It’s like they’re having some kind of contest.

At first, Anne looked confused until she realized that Tianna was referring to their outfits. Smiling she explained, In a way, I guess they are at that. Over here, where we don’t have to disguise what we are, many of us try and out do the others. It’s a game that I haven’t indulged in since I was a young witch, although there was a time…. With a mischievous grin spreading across her face, Anne slowly waved her wand from head to toe, creating a witch that appeared more outlandish than anything Tianna had seen before. She was wearing a tall witch’s hat and robe that were made of a rich purple material. The stars and moons printed on the cloth were a mixture of glowing yellows, reds, and oranges. The cuffs on the arms and the sash about the waist were a brilliant green that shone with its own