True Majik

By Sheena Bandy

Marjorie Knight is not new to magic but when she is thrown into a world of magical people, she must fight to stay afloat in a world of dangerous beasts and more dangerous people.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sheena Bandy
• Release date: Oct 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311764164

Sheena Bandy

Sheena Bandy is a rabid fangirl and a writer of Paranormal Fantasy. Driven by delusions and hallucinations, she has studied Metaphysics, Spirit Communication, and Energy Manipulation. She is strangely qualified on the topics of Witches and the Paranormal. With a bit of reality and a hefty slice of nightmares, she creates fluid and unreliable worlds of magic.

Book preview

True Majik

By

Sheena Bandy

Copyright 2006 Sheena Bandy

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Chapter 1

In a matter of hours, Maji would be a virgin sacrifice. They picked out one newcomer each year, one who'd never done ritual magic, to tribute for the city's prosperity. The first time for her blood to spill on the altar and she would belong to the spirits forever. She listened to the crickets chirping outside.

'Is it worth it?'

She crawled out of bed, pushed her nightshirt back down from where it had ridden up throughout the night, and ambled over to the window. The night air was still cool but had lost most of its chill from spring.

Maji could see the city's halo through her window of her cabin near the sanctum. There had been many virgin women who'd taken the knife before her. The city had grown tall into the sky and the people had become more cynical.

A precious few still believed in the rites that had brought them such good fortune. It would be a thankless and probably unnecessary ritual. She was only here for the monetary reward anyway.

'Back out.' a voice in her head offered.

Maji crawled back between the covers and traced her fingers along her unblemished stomach. It would be covered in a telling scar soon, like the bodies of all the other women who'd made the sacrifice before her. A tattoo but more painful.

'Is it worth it?' She asked herself as she slowly drifted off to sleep again.

The alarm went off and Maji sat upright in bed. She turned it off and gave a good scratch to the healing sunburn on her scalp. She had given herself plenty time this morning to prepare for the ceremony, roughly four hours. When the time came, she would be led into the Circle and placed on the altar in front of the coven that founded New Salem.

'I hope it doesn't hurt too much.' She thought to herself before plopping back into the pillows. Who was she kidding? She was gonna lose it in front of everyone. She had been so ready for this a few days ago. Why did she have to get cold feet now? She sighed and rolled over, pulling the sheets around her. It wouldn't hurt to stay in bed just a little while longer. She could think just as well there as she could sitting on the porch swing or at the bar in the parlor.

Marjorie! Wake up! came a frantic echo through her sleepy haze, Yer gonna be late!

Maji fell from the bed and ran straight into the shower, tripping on the mat and tumbling into the tile wall. She turned on the tap and washed as quickly as she could in the still cold water. She pulled the shampoo from the showerhead basket and poured some in her hand. She skipped the conditioner and turned toward the spray of water, washing the soap off. The priest wouldn't care either way but she cared. A lot.

When Maji got out of the shower, she dried herself off and walked into the living room. Jakob waved to her and led the way to the Circle.

'It's worth it. It's worth it. It is worth it.' Maji silently chanted to herself. It wasn't working. She saw the gathering around the circle waiting for her.

You'll do fine. Jakob said over his shoulder. The way he said it, it sounded more like

Try to keep up. Maji breathed deep and walked up to the altar.

The altar was cold despite the early summer sun. She reached out and was given a quick squeeze to her hand.

The chatter around the circle wasn't as distracting as she'd hoped it would be. And it started to quiet down the closer they came to the ceremony. It had become a countdown of sorts. She squeezed the hand that held hers and waited.

She rolled her head back on the stone altar. She was ready to be cut open already. She wondered how the others could make this look easy. Of course, the ones she'd seen had been experienced. She was a Virgin Sacrifice. She had never been sacrificed before.

It won't be long, now. Jakob said. She followed his gaze and saw the priest coming toward the Circle.

'Oh God.'

You'll be fine.

The priest approached the altar and looked Maji over. Looking for doubts, she guessed. He nodded and took the tools from the table behind him. In his left hand, he held a silver goblet, and in the right hand, he held a crystal knife. She'd heard that it would hurt.

Seeing the knife in the priest's hand, she didn't doubt it. She leaned her head back and calmed her breathing. If she panicked, she'd bleed more.

Several members of the crowd started yelling encouragement. They couldn't know they were making it worse. The priest held up his right hand, knife shining in the sunlight, and signaled for quiet.

She took several deep breaths and forced her body to relax. The priest wouldn't be aiming to hurt her, right?

Wrong.

Maji threw her head back in agony as she felt the blade ripping through the flesh of her stomach. The stream of blood ran down her side and into the goblet. She may have blacked out for a moment, but soon a bandage was applied.

She saw the priest step away with the goblet held against the sky.

Our city will be prosperous for another year! The priest proclaimed. The crowd began to cheer. Maji looked at Jakob, who had not left her side, and at the man who was holding her hand. She realized she'd never seen him before.

She watched as the man reached into his jacket and pulled out something small and black. She was too deep in her haze to recognize it until he pointed it towards the priest and it exploded with sound.

She screamed and rolled away from him.

Jakob caught her before she hit the ground. The cup fell to the floor and rolled towards the crowd. She could see her blood streaked in the dirt and wondered what would become of the city without it.

Did you really think we would let you perform such a horrible act against God? The man said quietly, Ruining one of God's lambs with your black magic!

Another shot and the knife shattered into a million pieces. Shards scattered, some covered in her blood. The priest backed away, staring at the gun-wielding man. His gaze shifted to Maji, still crouched on the ground in Jakob's arms. His eyes dug into her and she knew what was coming next. One more shot rang out and the old man fell to the ground, his own blood mixing with Maji's.

The stranger ran and jumped into a car that was waiting nearby. Maji looked at the blood on the ground. She wanted to believe that the cutting was enough for the city's protection but the gunman had already proven her wrong.

The crowd started shouting, screaming, crying. Their words were lost to Maji. She felt Jakob lift her up and carry her back to her house. He locked the doors and windows, closing the curtains.

Jakob took her hand.

We need to leave here. He said. They're saying your blood was cursed.

The Coven held her responsible. Maji felt her stomach turn. She had failed to protect the city with her blood. Her ceremony had brought this tragedy.

Don't worry. Jakob said, They won't catch us.

'So we are running away.'

I'll have you somewhere safe before they can think of what to do. I'm sure they haven't noticed we're gone.

Maji rushed into the bathroom and promptly ejected the meager contents of her stomach. She'd eaten nothing but raw greens for days and she'd had nothing but water to drink. The acid burned her throat on its way back up and Jakob pulled her hair back in time to save it from being soaked.

She was led into the bedroom and Jakob resumed pulling things out of the closet for her. She sat on the bed and it creaked. He stilled. Maji could tell he was drawn up and ready to strike.

You should go pack your own things. Maji said.

I'll stay here with you. He answered.

But your things?

Don't need 'em.

Maji watched the man shuffling through her closet. The ceremony had gone so well until the end. Her sacrifice was in the goblet. She had done her part. It just hadn't been enough to