Witches' Quarters

By Laura M Snider

Charlotte's parents are fighting again. As the oldest of four children, Charlotte needs something to distract her three siblings. June, the youngest, takes a quarter from a bag and drops it in a tree-shaped coin bank. But these are no ordinary quarters. The kids are transported to a new world - one that resembles the scene on the back of the coin.

That world is Nova, and Nova is at war. The four siblings are now thrust into the middle of this war between the witches and the animal warriors. A raccoon named Ringo offers a way home - but the kids must first fight alongside the animals. Younger sister Ava wants to fight. Charlotte doesn't trust the warriors and wants to look for her own way out.

Charlotte and Ava become separated when they each follow their instincts. On their own, each girl discovers mysteries about Nova that place their family in peril. Now Charlotte and Ava have to find one another again - a task wrought with danger and deception - before it's too late.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clear Fork Press
• Release date: Oct 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781946101846

Book preview

The Tree

Charlotte

We’re home, Charlotte announced as she threw open the front door and held it for her sisters and brother. June, the youngest of the four, bounded past Charlotte, giving her a high five on the way. Charlotte watched fondly as the little girl pranced into the living room, dropping her unicorn shaped backpack in the middle of the floor.

Nolan, the second youngest child, passed with his shoulders slumped forward, his eyes glued to his mobile phone. He typed furiously with both thumbs, paying little attention to his surroundings until the toe of his large, clunky boot caught the strap of June’s backpack. He pitched forward, falling on his face as his phone flew out of his hands, landing with a sickening crunch against the hardwood floor.

Smooth, Ava said, bringing up the rear. Ava, the second oldest child, was almost exactly one year younger than Charlotte. You better hope it isn’t broken, she mocked. Our parents can’t afford to buy you another.

Nolan reached for his phone while lying sprawled out on the floor. His long, gangly fingers grasped it and flipped it over. Oh no, he groaned, and Charlotte could see the screen had cracked, long spidery lines scattered across the screen.

Ava shrugged. Not that it matters anyway. Nobody reads that nerdy Dungeons and Dragons blog you write anyway.

Ava, Charlotte said, slamming the front door.

What? Ava said, tugging her backpack off her shoulders and holding it with one hand.

Ava, Charlotte repeated, this time through clenched teeth.

Ava quirked a mischievous smile. What?

Do. Not. Drop. But Charlotte was interrupted by the sound of Ava’s bag, full of books, banging hard against the unpolished wooden floor.

Whoops, Ava said, quirking a half smile as if to say, what are you going to do about it?

The blood rushed to Charlotte’s head like steam from an engine. Pick that up now! she demanded, pointing a trembling finger at Ava’s bag.

What? Ava asked, feigning nonchalance. June did it. I thought it was our new bag drop.

June is six years old. You are fifteen.

And… Ava said, picking at her nails.

I think I chipped my tooth, Nolan said, rolling onto his side and pushing himself to his feet.

Your tooth is fine, Charlotte said without looking at him. She continued to glare at Ava, both unblinking, neither budging an inch. Suddenly, there was a sharp creak on the stairs.

Mama? Charlotte said, breaking her gaze with her sister to look in the direction of the sound. Her mother slowly descended, taking small, tentative steps. Charlotte noticed her wince with every movement. Are you hurt, Mama?

I’m hurt, Nolan groaned, but Charlotte ignored him. Even if he had chipped his tooth, he wasn’t really hurt. Not in the way Mama was always hurting.

I’m—small grunt—fine. Darling, her mother managed between heavy breaths. Charlotte watched as Mama made her way to the bottom of the steps and stopped. Now, she said, leaning over and motioning toward June, how was your day at school?

Good! June squealed, skipping toward Mama and throwing her arms around her.

June! Charlotte shouted, grabbing the little girl by one chubby arm. Stop!

What’s wrong with you? Ava asked. Her eyes narrowed and fixed accusingly upon their mother.

Ava, Charlotte warned. Mama doesn’t need this right now.

Where is he? Ava asked, her eyes searching from one side of the room to the other. Is he here, or did he go to the bar to ‘blow off steam,’ she continued, using air quotes around their father’s all too familiar words.

Charlotte sighed deeply. Sometimes her house felt more like a war zone than a home.

He’ll be back shortly, Mama said, her eyes shifting furtively toward the door. I, uh… Mama said, her voice trailing off.

Think I should take everyone upstairs while you wait for Papa? Charlotte finished for her mother. Mama didn’t answer, but Charlotte knew what was best for her brother and sisters. She didn’t want to leave her mother alone, but there wasn’t much more Charlotte could do. She needed to protect the rest of her siblings, and she could only do that by keeping them out of their father’s line of sight. Mama would deal with the rest.

Charlotte quickly ushered her siblings up the stairs and into her bedroom. Just as she was closing the door, she heard the front door fly open and then slam shut. She listened in quiet trepidation as heavy boots strode across the living room. Charlotte sighed and closed the door, her hand lingering on the doorknob. She pinched the bridge of her nose, silently gathering strength.

What did she supposedly do this time? Ava asked.

Charlotte looked up. Her siblings were lined up from tallest to smallest along the edge of her bed.

Does it matter? Charlotte asked, running a hand down the delicate features of her face. The fights were never over anything important.

No, I guess it doesn’t, Ava grumbled, biting her nails.

Charlotte studied her sister. Ava was closest to her oldest sister, Charlotte, in age and the two girls looked the most alike. Both girls were slender and tall for their ages, with long, golden-blonde hair.

Is Daddy going to hurt Mommy? June’s scared little voice peeped from the foot of the bed. June looked more like their father than their mother, with jet-black hair, sea green eyes, and skin to match a porcelain doll.

Charlotte sighed and went to the little girl, sitting beside her and pulling her close. Oh no, honey, Charlotte said, smoothing June’s hair back and tucking it behind her ear. Mama will be fine.

For now, Ava grumbled.

Stop that, Charlotte snapped, pulling June closer.

Ava scowled, unapologetic.

He’ll probably make her cry again, Nolan said. Nolan was the second middle child, and only a year younger than Ava. His appearance was darker, like June’s, but he wore enormous, round glasses, which magnified his eyes to a nearly comical size. They were wire-rimmed and sat crookedly on his freckled face.

Probably, Charlotte answered truthfully, but he isn’t going to hurt her.

Suddenly there was a thump followed by a loud crashing sound. They all jumped.

What was that? June asked, looking around wildly and shrinking back into the folds of the quilt on Charlotte’s bed.

"It sounds like something or somebody went through the window," Ava said.

Stop it, Charlotte hissed. June was shaking with fear, too scared to even cry. Charlotte gave her a reassuring squeeze.

Okay, Charlotte said clapping her hands together and looking around. She was desperate to find something, anything, to distract her siblings. Her eyes flitted around hopelessly until they fell upon a deck of cards. An idea popped into her head. Well, she said, feigning excitement, does anyone want to play a game?

What kind of game? June asked, looking up at Charlotte with round, angelic eyes.

Oh, I don’t know. Anything you want to play, Charlotte said.

What’s this? Ava asked. She had risen from the bed and now stood by the dresser at the other side of Charlotte’s tiny bedroom. She pointed at a tree shaped object sitting on the dresser. It stood approximately six inches in height, with dark, leafless branches twisting and stretching wildly in all directions. It looked ominous and foreboding, like a tree one would expect to find deep within the bowels of a haunted forest.

It’s a piggy bank, Charlotte said. Aunt Stacie gave it to me on my sixteenth birthday.

When? Ava said, cocking her head. I don’t remember her giving you this.

You weren’t there, Charlotte said, twisting a lock of hair around her finger. She took me to lunch.

Why?

Because, Charlotte said, losing patience with Ava’s seemingly endless list of questions. She believes sixteen is a special birthday, especially for our family.

Ava looked from the coin bank to Charlotte, looking unimpressed.

Charlotte sighed.

Aunt Stacie was their only extended family, or at least the only family they knew. She was their mother’s sister, but the two women were nothing alike. They were opposite sides of the same coin, completely different in all ways. Where one was up, the other was down, one right, the other wrong, much like Charlotte and Ava.

Where Aunt Stacie was strong, intelligent, and driven, their mother seemed to lack those qualities. Aunt Stacie never married, always saying she was too independent for any man, while Mama had always been far too dependent on men, especially those who treated her like dirt.

It’s kind of creepy, Ava said, picking up the coin tree and shaking it vigorously. Her eyes widened in surprise. Hey, she said. There’s no money in here.

I don’t use it as a piggy bank, Charlotte said. It’s decorative.

Then why do you have this bag of change sitting here? Ava asked, reaching for a leather drawstring bag sitting beside the tree. It was heavy and jingled as she lifted it off the dresser. The bag was dusty and ancient looking, like a relic from the distant past.

Aunt Stacie gave that to me too. I think it’s full of quarters.

Why? Ava asked, crossing her arms.

I don’t know, Charlotte said. She said they belonged with the tree.

Why? Ava asked again.

Charlotte shrugged, trying to hide her irritation. Charlotte knew that challenging her with questions was Ava’s way of distracting herself from the drama downstairs. So Charlotte bit back a retort, silently reminding herself of her role as the oldest sibling. I don’t know, Charlotte said. She didn’t give me a reason.

Did you ask? Ava said, her tone incredulous.

Yes. I asked, Charlotte snapped. But she wouldn’t say. She winked and said something like, ‘You’ll have to find out.’ Like the quarters were something special.

That’s weird, Ava said.

Can we put the quarters in the piggy bank? June asked in a quiet, tentative voice.

Of course you can, sweetie, Charlotte said, grateful to find something to distract the little girl.

Ava grabbed the tree and the pouch of coins and sank onto the faded yellow, 70’s style, shag carpet, setting both items on the floor in front of her. The other three siblings gathered around the tree, sitting in a circle with their legs crossed.

When they were all situated, June reached her little hand into the bag and removed a single quarter. Hey, she said, it won’t let me pull out more than one.

That’s impossible. Let me try, Nolan said as he leaned over and reached into the bag. Charlotte saw his hand moving around inside and heard the jingle of the quarters, but his hand ultimately emerged empty. Weird, he said, I can’t get a grip on any of the quarters.

Give it to me, Ava said, snatching the bag from her bewildered brother and plunging her hand inside. She fished around, scraping at the contents within. After a moment, she furrowed her brow, and she too extracted an empty hand. She looked at the bag with wonder and said, I can’t either.

Let me see it, Charlotte said, certain they had to be wrong. She plunged her hand inside, and to her astonishment, she too could not remove a quarter from the bag. She could feel them inside, running her fingers along their uneven edges and smooth surfaces, but couldn’t seem to close her hand around a single one. Now that is curious, Charlotte said.

There’s something on the back of this quarter, June said holding it so close to her face that it nearly touched her nose.

What is it? Ava asked, grabbing it out of the little girl’s hands.

Hey, June protested, that’s mine.

Give it back to her, Ava, Charlotte chastised.

Ava turned her back just in time to dodge Charlotte’s swipe for the quarter. I’ll give it back when you stop bossing everyone around.

Give it back, Charlotte hissed through clenched teeth. For the moment, she wasn’t sure what made her angrier, Ava’s behavior or the fact that she’d called Charlotte ‘bossy.’ Either way, Charlotte had had about enough of her. Ava fought her on everything.

It’s a picture of two buffalo, and it says ‘North Dakota,’ Ava said.

Bison, Nolan corrected.

What? Ava said, furrowing her brow.

You mean bison, not buffalo, Nolan said. It’s a common mistake, but buffalo live in Africa, not America. These are North American Bison, not African Water Buffalo.

Whatever, Ava said dismissively and tossed the coin back to June.

June caught it in tender, careful hands, cradling it like a precious stone. She slid it gently through a small, quarter-sized opening in the back of the tree-shaped piggy bank and let it fall with a plunk.

Bison

Nolan

Nolan looked around with fascination as Charlotte’s room dissipated, dissolving into something entirely different. Colors ran together, growing longer, lighter, then disappearing into white nothingness. He thought of Alice and Wonderland, wondering if this was what she felt as she fell through the rabbit hole.

Nolan thrust the thought aside. He was a practical young man; he’d always been that way. There was no place for fantasy in the real world, and this, whatever this was, had some logical explanation; something that didn’t include magic. Maybe it was a sinkhole, one like those in Florida that swallow entire houses. Or…His thoughts trailed off.

Nolan frowned and concentrated on the changes around him, examining the details. Colors swirled, mixing like a giant twirling rainbow, and textures were beginning to shift too. The fuzzy, shag carpet took on a new spongier feel, while the air around him grew lighter, sweeter. There was a rustling sound, and something that felt quite similar to a breeze reached out and touched the smooth skin of Nolan’s cheek.

When the movement stopped, Nolan and his three sisters still sat in a circle with the tiny tree in the center, but they were no longer in Charlotte’s bedroom. Nolan sucked in a deep breath. Woooooow, he said. Nobody, not even Ava, had anything to say in response, which surprised Nolan. His sisters always had something to say.

His tooth no longer hurt, although he doubted anyone cared. He kept running his tongue over it, inspecting the area for permanent damage, but it felt pretty normal. It was a false alarm. His teeth were still in perfect order. Nothing was chipped or loose, which was a good thing. His father would have, well, he wasn’t sure what his father would have done, but he certainly wouldn’t have paid an expensive dentist to fix the problem.

What on Earth, Charlotte said, drawing Nolan’s attention. She jumped to her feet and stumbled a few steps back, a hand clapped over her mouth.

Probably not Earth, Nolan said matter-of-factly. Or at least it wasn’t the Earth they knew. The air was too fresh, too clear.

Charlotte shook her head and then pinched herself. Ouch, Charlotte said.

Ava rolled her eyes. Yeah, pinching yourself hurts, she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

It’s not a dream, Nolan said, stepping between the two and readjusting his glasses. They were on the brink of another fight, which wasn’t going to get them anywhere. Or at least, I don’t think it’s a dream.

Charlotte shook her head, bewildered. I don’t understand, her voice trailed off, and she swallowed hard. Where are we?

Ava shrugged, then pushed herself off of the ground and into a standing position. Anywhere is better than home.

Oh stop that, Charlotte growled. Mama needs us.

Ava scowled. Well, we were sure doing her a lot of good hiding up there in your bedroom. What were you going to do? Send her happy thoughts? Wish on a star that Papa would leave for good?

Charlotte’s eyes shifted to the ground, and she shuffled her feet, an unusual concession to one of Ava’s challenges. I don’t know, she said. I just think we should be there.

They all fell silent for a long moment, quietly considering the scenery. The kids were in in the middle of a field full of prairie grasses, with wildflowers of vibrant pinks and purples sporadically peeking out from behind their grassy neighbors.

Hills stood in the distance, rising and leveling off like tabletops before falling once again. The sun sat low in the east, rising just over the horizon, reaching out with its warm touch to zap the chill out of the air. Two great, shaggy bison stood a distance away, taking no notice of the new arrivals. Their heads were bent low, munching on the lush, green grasses.

Wherever we are, Nolan said, it isn’t Kansas anymore.

Ava threw up her hands in exasperation Oh good one. A Wizard of Oz reference. Genius. Just gen-ius, she said, carefully annunciating genius, in a way that made Nolan think she meant the exact opposite.

Ava, Charlotte hissed, Stop. Bullying. Him.

Just then, June squealed with delight, catching everyone’s attention. Look! Look! she shouted, jumping up and down. It’s buffalo!

Actually, no, Nolan corrected. They are bison, which are native to Kansas. But the plateaus, he said, pointing toward the flat-topped hills in the distance. We don’t have those in Kansas.

You’re a nerd; you know that? Ava said.

Nolan nodded. He did know, but try as he might, he would never be popular like his two older sisters. They were pretty and other people liked them, but Nolan was awkward and didn’t seem to catch on to social cues like others did.

Come on, Ava, Charlotte said, sighing and rubbing her temples. Can’t you be nice for five minutes? You can go back to your regular insulting self once we’ve figured out where we are.

Isn’t it obvious? Nolan asked. We’re in North Dakota.

I didn’t do it, June said, sinking to the ground, her bottom lip quivering. One monstrous tear broke free and slid down her cheek. I mean, I didn’t mean to, she said, a flood of tears trailing down her face. June was still clutching the bag of quarters tightly in two, tiny-balled fists.

Well, Nolan said, that’s not entirely correct.

Charlotte shot him a disapproving look as June’s tears went from bad to worse. He shrugged. After all, June had dropped the coin into the tree, and she had meant to do it. Nolan’s statement was factual, and facts were facts.

June’s tears quickly transformed into an all-out wail, her entire body rocking back and forth with the force of her cries.

Oh June, Charlotte said, crouching down beside their littlest sister, it wasn’t your fault. All you did was drop a coin into a piggy bank. You didn’t do anything wrong.

You’re babying her, Ava warned through clenched teeth, but Charlotte ignored her.

Really? The little girl said through her tears.

Really, Charlotte said, and just like that the little girl’s tears subsided, leaving behind only small, sporadic sniffles.

Do you think, sniff, Aunt Stacie meant for us to come here? June asked.

That’s a good question, Charlotte said. I don’t know.

I doubt it, Nolan said, picking up the coin tree and inspecting its exterior. We didn’t expect to come here. Why would Aunt Stacie?

I don’t care, Ava said. I, for one, appreciate the change. At least we don’t have to spend the night listening to Mama and Papa fight.

Nolan nodded in agreement and continued inspecting the tree. It looked like a normal piggy-bank, albeit a creepy one. He scratched the outside with a fingernail. It seemed like normal paint. He shook it, expecting it to do something remarkable - change form, glow, anything - but it didn’t. All he heard was the jingle of the quarter inside, bouncing against its walls.

What are you doing? Ava asked incredulously.

Nolan set the tree down. Nothing, he said quickly. Just curious.

Ava snorted.

What do we do now? June asked.

I guess we explore. Maybe we can find a way back home, Charlotte said as she extended her hand and helped her littlest sister to her feet.

But let’s not rush on that ‘going home’ thing, Ava said.

Charlotte turned toward her littlest sister, running a hand through the little girl’s hair. June, she said, careful to keep her voice calm, do you have your medicine with you?

June shook her head.

Well, that solves it, Charlotte said, pacing back and forth, chewing on a fingernail.

That solves what? Ava said.

We are going home the second we have a chance, Charlotte said with an emphatic nod of her head.

Ava scoffed. Why?

Because June needs her medicine.

No, she doesn’t, Ava said, crossing her arms. She hasn’t had a seizure in over a year. The doctors were going to take her off the medicine in a couple of weeks anyway.

Uhhh, Nolan said, trying to catch the girls’ attention. As always, they ignored him.

Well we aren’t doctors, Charlotte shot back, so it’s not for us to decide. June needs her medicine.

Does not, Ava said, holding her nose in the air.

Does too.

Does not.

Uh, Nolan said, tapping Ava on the shoulder. When his older sisters fought, they paid little to no attention to anything else going on around them, which was not ideal while in a completely foreign world.

Stop touching me, Ava growled, whirling so she could glare directly at him. If you have something to say, spit it out.

Uh. I think we have company, Nolan said.

Both girls whirled. There were bison everywhere.

And I think it was your fighting that drew their attention.

Ugh, Charlotte groaned, eyeing Ava with irritation.

Charlotte was blaming Ava. Nolan could see it in her eyes, but he knew it wasn’t all Ava’s fault. They were both equally guilty. Nolan would say so, but it was easier to do as he was told. Follow Charlotte’s directives.

Nolan turned in a quick circle, then froze. They have us surrounded, he said.

Thanks again, Captain Obvious, Ava grumbled through clenched teeth.

Are they going to h-hurt us? June said, her voice tremoring.

Charlotte inched back, moving slowly, and wrapped a protective arm around their littlest sister. I’m sure we’ll be fine, she said, her voice unsteady.

Actually, Nolan said, raising a finger in protest, but Charlotte interrupted him.

Don’t you dare say it.

Nolan begrudgingly dropped his finger and shut his mouth.

They all stood in stunned silence, looking around at the sea of giant horned heads. Nolan squinted and looked into their furry faces. He thought - or maybe he hoped - he could detect a wariness in their expressions. He shook his head, reminding himself the thought was ridiculous. Bison didn’t have human expressions like wariness.

After a long moment, one of the bison stepped forward, his giant head only feet away from Charlotte’s face. He extended his muzzle toward her, sniffing. Charlotte shoved June behind her and froze, standing stock still while the giant beast’s nose sucked in her scent.

The bison sniffed with such force that her hair flew into her face, tickling the bison’s open nostril. He snorted, shook his head and stepped back. They don’t smell like magic to me, the bison said, his voice deep and gruff like a weather-beaten cowboy.

Did that buffalo just talk? Ava asked loud enough for several of the nearby bison to hear.

Nolan’s eyes widened with excitement. The bison had spoken. Nolan was face-to-face with talking animals. He wondered if this world was like Watership Down, where the rabbits had their own cultures and communities, or The Chronicles of Narnia, where many of the animals were mythical half-breeds.

Shhh, Charlotte said.

You ‘Shhh,’ Ava countered, to which the bison snorted with disapproval.

You’re upsetting them, Nolan whispered. They were in a dire situation, and his sisters didn’t seem to realize their fighting was only making things worse. They were trapped, stuck in the middle of a herd of 1,400-pound animals, each of which had a set of sharp horns attached to its head. Whatever his sisters’ transgressions were, and there were many, they could deal with them at a later time. That was if they were lucky enough to live that long. Maybe, Nolan said in a voice just below a whisper, you should pick up that coin tree.

Charlotte nodded, then slowly crouched down, picking the tree up and clenching it tightly in her fist.

The tall one has a hanging tree, shouted a voice from the herd.

Yes, but I smell no magic, shouted another.

Only witches have hanging trees, another retorted.

Maybe Queen Mirage found a way to disguise their scent? shouted another voice from the crowd.

Impossible, exclaimed another.

The group broke out into collective murmurs of disagreement until an enormous bison, undoubtedly the largest of them all, stepped forward, breaking free from the crowd. Aside from his sheer size, the bison was distinguishable by the decorative feathers and beads dangling from his horns. They were colorful and intricate like a Native American headdress.

Silence, the giant bison said in a deep, commanding voice. The murmurs of the crowd instantly died down, and the air became uneasy, still.