Chimes in the Tree : You Say Witch like It’s a Bad Thing

By Jazan Wild

Book Two in Jazan Wild's "Chimes In The Tree" series. The Chimes in the Tree story continues as The Lost Princess of Chaparral, Katie Windsor, returns home to Windermere just to be treated as the odd misfit, once again. No one but her cat, Green Eyes, knows the truth about where the strange Windsor girl wandered off to for all those many days. No one would believe Katie saved her bewitched family and thawed the frozen kingdom of which she belonged.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CARNIVAL COMICS
• Release date: Apr 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781513692494

Jazan Wild

Jazan Wild is a bestselling author and musician whose Carnival of Souls, Atomic Dreams, Chimes in the Tree, Dandy and Funhouse Of Horrors series are international hits that have been downloaded millions of times around the globe, even gracing Entertainment Weekly's Must List!

Book preview

pic00

PROLOGUE

"Tell Us Another Tale, 

Please, Please "

Don't let them find me, please, please," uttered the little girl, out of breath and desperately trying to stay quiet. Scooching backwards into the shadows, she withdrew her tiny black shoes out of the light, scrunching them behind the dusty old journals and encyclopedias on the bottom shelf of the grand book case in which she was hiding.

If I can just make myself mouse-like, I’ll be okay, she thought to herself. I’ll disappear like magic. I’ll make myself invisible from the one who’s trying to get me.

All she could hear was her own heart pounding, about to leap from out of her chest. It was muffled slightly by the jet black kitten under her jacket. 

Shh, Midnight, she whispered into its furry ear, anticipating that a meow was about to give away their position.    

At that moment, footsteps and a clank echoed in the distance. Thud, thud, clank… thud, thud, clank. Closer and closer it came towards her. The light stretching between the leather bound pillars masked her from the encroaching danger. In an instant, her shelter was gone. Two dusty books directly in front of her slid away, letting beams of light seep through. With nowhere to run, and no escape possible, ten wiggly fingers drew down upon her, breaching her secret hiding place… a place which was secret no more. 

Boo! said a low growly voice, almost like that of a lion, if lions could speak. I gotcha!  

The little girl could see a familiar old walking stick hit the floor, coming to rest between a rather stout pair of legs. It would seem the old man needed both hands to tickle his grandniece.

Aaaaa! Cut it out! Stop! she screamed. Let me go!   

  Two rough and worn hands lifted the little girl, kitten and all, from the bottom shelf into the air above the gravelly toned man’s head, as Cynthiana kicked and screamed, knocking over several rows of books as she ascended.

Stupid books, I trusted you to hide me. 

"And they almost did, Cynthiana, said the old man. Almost."

And you, she said, giving her kitten a searing look, why didn’t you bite him? You could have scratched a finger, at least!

From around the corner came two more young girls, Kadence and Hailey. They had heard the laughter, and surmised the game was over and the old man had won.

No fair, Uncle Simon, no fair, grinned Cynthiana, while at the same time screwing up her mouth to one side, dejected that she had been discovered. I was quiet as a mouse, so was Midnight. What are you, part cat or something?

The old man just laughed, Maybe, little one. Maybe.

Brushing off the cobwebs and dust from her dress, Cynthiana suddenly nudged aside a book or two that were scattered around her feet. She used her tiny black shoes to slide them around, so she could make out the titles. The little girl’s gaze suddenly darted back and forth between the hide and seek champion and the fallen books. A grin appeared on her face as she eyed her great uncle, who was famous - in this house at least - for being quite the storyteller.

Say, Uncle Simon, she said in a sing-songy voice, these books give me an idea, can you guess what it is? 

No, don’t even think about it, he replied anticipating what was about to come next.

How about a story?

Kadence and Hailey, joined in.

Please, please, Uncle Simon. Please!

"No! No! No! I’m not falling for that again, he said firmly. One of you has a nightmare, and then I will be hiding, from you know who… he paused for effect, …your grandmother."

Please, please, Uncle Simon, pleaded Kadence.

It will be our little secret, said Hailey.

Yeah, Uncle Simon, just like the secret shelf, added Cynthiana. 

Well… started their great uncle, before stopping abruptly, shaking his head, …no, no, no, I couldn’t. Well… I shouldn’t.

The girls’ expressions dropped. 

Aw… come on… please, they seemed to plead in unison, in a last ditch effort.

Uncle Simon firmed up his chin, in a negotiating manner, as he laid out the conditions if he were to do the thing. 

"If I tell you a story… I say if, mind you... then there can be no snitching. You promise?"

We promise. 

Hmm. Then I assume it should be a tale about a certain princess, right?

Yes! Yes!  Please, Uncle Simon! Please!

Well, okay. You win.

Yay!! Yay!! shouted the girls, clapping their hands together as they bounced up and down in place.

The great storyteller rubbed his chin and looked upward as if trying to spot a memory circling overhead, flying around.

"As you recall, the iced castle had thawed, the sun was shining once more on Clarion’s Peak and the evil, Osiris, was defeated. After many years of turmoil, all was once again right with the lands of Chaparral. The warriors known as The Seven, were alive and well, having survived the ultimate test of their oaths. Each protector had stayed true to their word and defended their princess to the bitter end. And Katie, you ask?" 

Their great uncle was interrupted as the room burst into applause.

Yes, yes, I know, Princess Katherzine is your favorite. 

He then muttered to himself, "Hmm, I noticed not one of you little hellions cheered when The Seven were mentioned."

Shaking his head in mock disgust, he broke off to admonish the tiny crowd in front of him, before pressing on. 

"Now as you remember, I told you that Katie Windsor returned back home to her small town. However, I might have left you with the impression that things pretty much went back to normal, after she did. Yes, I said that Katie did return to school. And yes, I mentioned that she and her cat, Green Eyes, once again embarked on their make-believe adventures in the branches of the Great Oak. And so, I led you to believe, that much like Chaparral, all was well in Windermere, too. 

It was not so. 

I told you that every summer Katie would spend time with her favorite aunt, Aunt Gummy, whom was un-affectionately known as such, because at Christmas time, Charles and Abigail would inquire about Katie’s visits, only to be met with a blank expression followed by a… Katie who?

Abigail would always just smile in response, before turning to Charles in private whispering, poor dear, all the gumballs have fallen out of the machine. The three little girls snickered at the mental image of the gumball-less aunt." 

The old storyteller gave them a not so stern look before continuing with a chuckle, "Hmm, Hmm. Now yes, it is correct… that I told you that Katie grew up to become a famous writer, who recounted the fictional tales of her fantastical journeys to faraway lands. And she did. You need bells on that one, if you want to track her down, is how her family put it, and… she’s always traveling, always researching her next book, they would often say. Remember? 

Well, I’m afraid that there is more to the story, and that I did not tell you the entire truth."

A great gasp could be heard amongst the girls. 

Shame, shame, shame, said Cynthiana, as she rubbed one finger on top of the other. Quickly, Hailey and Kadence, joined in.

"No, no… it’s true… as hard as it is to believe, I, your Great Uncle and all around pillar of virtue-ness, was not exactly forthcoming, he said nodding his head in insincere disgrace. The fact is, that Katie Windsor’s homecoming was bittersweet at best. It was not exactly a happy ending. The storyteller pointed directly at each of the girls, And I felt that you, you, and you… my lovelies, had already been on such a grand journey with your favorite princess, that, well… you deserved a happy ending. So I gave you one."

The storyteller took a deep breath, "But now you are older. So I will fill in a few of those… ah… details, which might have been glossed over a bit, with a handful of Magic Dust."

As he said those words, the uncle blew into the palms of his hands. And as if a magician had waved a wand and cape, suddenly a sparkling cloud of dust filled the air and rained down upon the girls. The downpour was met with several oohs and ahhs. Even Midnight pawed at a few falling bits of enchantment.  

But I’m getting ahead of myself, aren’t I? beckoned Uncle Simon, drawing the attention back to himself, as he adjusted his walking stick to lie snug across his lap. The girls knew to pay attention, for the tale that they had so eagerly petitioned for was about to commence. 

"I will begin this story at the end. A do-over, so to speak. Let’s go back to that fall day, when the oldest of the Windsor girls, whom had been lost, was suddenly, and remarkably, lost no more."

pic01

CHAPTER ONE

You Say Witch Like It's A Bad Thing

The leaves had turned a darker shade of orange and brown, or at least it felt that way to the townspeople of Windermere who refused to end the search for the missing Windsor girl, despite the fact that it had been several long agonizing days since her disappearance. Many spirits had waned and given up hope of ever seeing the somewhat eccentric young girl ever again, but not all. Amongst those still searching were Katie’s six sisters, and her parents, Charles and Abigail Windsor, who despite their unrequited calls, continued crying out their eldest daughter’s name. 

Katie, Katie!

It seemed that no matter which part of the woods the family combed, they were always drawn back to the Great Oak. They prayed that Katie would find her way back to it, too. 

This was the very place whereas a young couple, Charles and Abigail, first found an abandoned baby girl, who they raised as their own. The secret bundle of joy seemed to just appear from out of nowhere, at the foot of the tree. They kept this bundle, a secret, from the outside world, allowing everyone in the small town to conclude that Abigail barely showed during her nine months of pregnancy, and that she must have had a natural birth on the couple’s secluded farm.

Looking at the Great Oak, standing tall with its branches, full of as many secrets as it had leaves, Charles thought to himself, maybe just maybe, it could do a bit of magic again, and bring Katie back.

He began to tear up, but thought better of it, for Abigail’s sake. He lifted his chin up and rejoined his family as they continued crying out into the shadows.

Katie, Katie! Can you hear us? 

Katie, are you out here? Katie! Katie!

And then, after days of silence, someone answered their calls. As if by some grand mystical doings, Katie Windsor once again just seemed to appear from out of thin air, just under the Great Oak’s branches, and at her ankles purred a snow white cat with bright green eyes. 

Oh, dear God, Katie is that you? Is it really you? We missed you so much!

It was almost as if she stepped out of the Great Oak itself. What is with this tree, Charles thought to himself. Never the mind, he concluded, as he hugged his little girl. As Charles pulled back from their embrace, he noticed something odd. Though, it had only been, but a few days, Katie seemed to have aged years. A glance at Abigail, confirmed that she noticed it, too. But the joy of the moment brushed everything else away. All that mattered was that Katie Windsor had returned home. And oh my, did she reappear with quite an enchanted tale to tell.

The Windsors returned home to their modest farmhouse, where Katie had always felt herself to be the odd child out, but now, even more so. When she tried to tell her family where she had been, and all that she had lived through during her journey through the Great Oak’s bark, she was met with odd looks, and visual searches for knots on her head, to explain such gibberish. Eventually she just felt it best to tuck these things away. 

She knew that she was Katherzine Granxor, the Princess of Chaparral; at least that’s what her memories told her. These vivid memories of an otherworldly adventure played constantly, dancing around her head. Yet the only tangible things she had to convince herself that it wasn’t all just a dream or gibberish were two enchanted gifts; one, a magical lantern from her grandmother, Eshe Granxor, the other, a walking stick, given to her by a kindly old wizard named, Robur. Well, given to her by his ghost actually. But still it was a gift all the same, and like her memories of Chaparral, she concluded that she better tuck these things away, as well.

In fact, the first chance that Katie could get away from her six sisters laughing about her thinking she was a princess, and escape into her bedroom alone, she did just that. 

Looking over her shoulder twice and beneath the door crack to make sure that no shadow was encroaching, Katie opened the closet door. 

Ahh! she gasped, startled by something unexpected emerging from out of the darkness to greet her. Oh, it’s you. You half scared me to death. 

It was Green Eyes, purring at her feet. 

That was not funny, she said, suppressing a grin, and then reached down and gave her old friend a rub behind the ears.

Katie moved some boxes and timeworn clothing to get to the back of the closet, where only spiders spinning cobwebs seem to reside.

This should do, she uttered under her breath, as she uncloaked the enchanted lantern from under her school uniform jacket. Katie then removed the long wooden staff that was strapped to her back. She made sure to tuck the items deep inside the closet, behind the garments, well out of view, concealing them nicely, for safe keeping… safe from her six sisters’ destructive mitts, in particular. 

For several days, Charles and Abigail kept their long lost daughter close to home and out of the public eye. Many in the small town, had questions after Katie’s remarkable return. In fact, they kept all their daughters home, not even allowing them to return to school, which most of the girls liked, at first at least. Abigail would stop by the schoolhouse to get their assignments from Mrs. Charlotte. She was always careful to avoid any long conversations by saying that they were doing great, and sorry but she had to run; needed to get home to the girls. 

Only Dr. Vangor, Windermere’s town doctor, was allowed to pay a visit to the farmhouse, to give a routine check up to make sure that all limbs and extremities were still attached and functioning. They were and they did. 

However, the doctor did conduct quite a thorough examination of Katie’s scalp, looking for those bumps that must have caused the gibberish, which Abigail, quietly told him about.

She thought she went to another world where she was a princess, Mrs. Windsor whispered, not thinking Katie could hear. She could. 

I see, said Dr. Vangor, and he moved in closer towards Katie once again, shining a light into her eyes.  

Well, I surmise that young Miss Windsor here, likely struck her head in a fall, quite possibly from that tree you spoke of.

The doctor began probing Katie’s head, not unlike a monkey grooming its subordinate looking for fleas. I have no doubt that she wandered off in a zombie-like state, before remembering who she was.

He suddenly let out a joyful gasp, Ah! There it is! 

Dr. Vangor found the smallest of bumps to validate his theory. 

Of course, the doctor stated to Mr. and Mrs. Windsor, yes, they’re there, but nothing long-lasting. Nothing to worry about. I give her a clean bill of health. Just keep an eye on her to see if there is any unusual behavior.

Unusual behavior, well that’s kinda her thing, said a voice from not too far outside the door. A chorus of suppressed giggles followed. 

Hush, Ruby, said Mrs. Windsor, under her breath, hoping to keep up a good face in front of the small town doctor. 

Doctor, do you feel that she is well enough to return to school? asked Abigail, trying to steer the conversation.

I see no reason why not. She can resume her studies in the morning, said Dr. Vangor, closing up his medicine bag, and placing his hat atop his balding head.  

Suddenly there were cheers from out in the hallway, where Katie’s sisters had been not so secretly eavesdropping. 

As fate would have it, Hallows Eve would be Katie’s first day back to school. Mrs. Charlotte allowed all her students to dress in costume to school on this special holiday. It was also a special day for Katie. It was her birthday. Katie would often say… if I’m not already seen as weird enough, my birthday has to be on October 31st! 

As much as Katie’s sisters loved not having to go to school, they hated the idea of missing out on candy. As Libby put it, It’s great to have you back from wherever you disappeared to and all, but no Halloween… now that just won’t do.

Sorry Katie, but I couldn’t agree more, said Annabelle with a grin. And it’s your birthday. I’m sure you don’t want to be locked up in the house all day.  

What am I going to dress up as? asked Libby.

Katie you should be a princess, said Ruby. Or a witch. Or a baby with a twig in her hair wrapped in a cloth covered with moons and stars. Get it? A gypsy babe left in the woods.

Ruby! barked Mrs. Windsor, having overheard the teasing from the other room.

Katie just ignored the chatter. She had gotten good at that. 

But see, had the doctor looked inside Katie Windsor’s head for real, he would have seen that while she did indeed still have all her gumballs, her skull remained filled to the brim, but not of the promises of tricks or treats, or even birthday cake. Even though she was going back to school for the first time since her disappearance, Katie’s head was full of magical thoughts, all of which remained a world away. A world that was just on the other side of the bark, through the Great Oak.

Despite the doctor’s diagnosis… despite any bumps on the head… despite whether the charmed items tucked away in the closet, were actually charmed, it made no difference. Deep in Katie Windsor’s bones, she knew the truth. Chaparral did exist. And she, Katie Windsor, was a princess, and a magical one at that. She was indeed, Princess Katherzine Alexandria Granxor, the long lost daughter of King Ragnor and Queen Bellzonna, who along with her two siblings, did once reside in a castle that sat upon the top of Clarion’s Peak. That was until an evil spell, by Hathor, her aunt turned it all to ice. 

However, today, the castle is frozen no more, she thought to herself with pride, thanks to a strange band of misfits, The Seven.

 Katie was being modest, for it was she that saved Chaparral. Not on her own, mind you. But she did do the thing. The cat at her feet would tell you so himself, if he were standing in front of you today.

All things considered, continued Katie using skull-speak to have a conversation with herself, running through the catacombs while escaping millions of bloodsucking spiders, all the while, avoiding the slithery grasp of Meretseger, the Cobra-Goddess, in the Land of Snakes… or soaring through the sky on the back of an Airox Dragon as their evil Salixion foes spat fire upon us from every side... or facing Osiris in the caves of lava under the Castle at Clarion’s Peak… truly makes returning to school, a minor event at best. 

Still, a nervousness in the pit of her stomach lingered. Something about her being back in Windermere, didn’t feel quite right.

The perfect girl is gone, thought Katie, as she caught her own reflection in the bedroom window. She never made it back. A different, stronger young lady emerged from out of the tree. Katie gave that girl - the one glimmering between the moonlight and glass - a melancholy smile. Fighting back a tear, she said softly, Everything is going to be different now. Everything has changed.

On this night, darkness filled her bedroom, yet nothing was still.

Goodnight, offered Katie to the shadows that swayed upon the ceiling above her bed. What came back to her was unpleasant indeed. It was a thing that crawled into her ear with tiny teeth clanking on its way deep inside her skull, all the way to the brain. 

Tell us again, teased Ruby, as the dim room echoed with chatter. This was the thing, which I just spoke of. Things actually, six of them. It would seem that none of Katie’s sisters wanted to go to sleep just yet.

"Yeah, tell us again where you were… all that time," pleaded Annabelle, with a choir of snickers that followed each word. 

You were right, Annabelle. It was just like the doctor said. I probably just hit my head and was knocked out, replied Katie, dismissively. We’ve done this song and dance every night since I’ve been back. It’s tired, and so am I. So let’s go to sleep, already. Tomorrow is our first day back to school, and you don’t want to be-

A zombie! interrupted Libby. 

Urrrrr! added Jessica, flailing her arms about, cueing all the girls to add their own morbid moans and groans to the mix. 

Remember? The doctor said you were a zombie! laughed Daisy. 

Ha ha. Very funny. You’ve all had a laugh, but enough now. Go to sleep! said Katie, exasperated. 

"Yes, Your Highness," mocked Violet, in a high pitched sing-song manner.

And as if a Pied Piper had lifted flute to mouth, all the sisters followed the cue. 

"Right away, Your Highness."

"Whatever you say, Your Highness."

"Yes indeed, Your Highness."

"Here’s your steed, Your Highness. Neigh, neigh."

You have to go as a princess, you just have to… said Ruby with an extra-long pause, Your Highness.

The perfectly delayed words sent the room into the uncontrollable laughter, yet again. Even though it was dark, Green Eyes could see Katie pull the covers over her head and then she smushed the pillow firmly against her ear, for an extra layer of sound blockage. Yet with all those measures taken to drown out the babble, Green Eyes still heard a muffled scream seep out, followed by the low rumble of, Urgh, it’s so good to be home.

The next morning the girls were up with the sun. The magic of Hallows Eve was in the air. Ruby had gathered up some straw and made herself into a scarecrow. Annabelle had a sheep herder’s staff, with a fluffy Sunday dress, making a pretty good Little Bo Peep. Libby was a rabbit with two long ears and a carrot picked fresh out of the garden. Violet was a nurse with a medical bag and stethoscope. Jessica had on white makeup making her look somewhere between a circus clown and a mime. And lastly the littlest sister, Daisy, was a dandelion flower, until she protested… Mother, I don’t want to be a dumb flower. I want to be a vampire!

Mrs. Windsor quickly grabbed a long black coat out of her husband’s closet, and then ran some grease through Daisy’s hair. With a couple of red lipstick lines running down the sides of her mouth, and black makeup around the eyes, a perfect impromptu vampire costume was completed in under 10 minutes. Katie smiled at her younger sister, who was very dear to her heart, thinking the flower getup was more fitting young Daisy’s personality. 

How do I look? asked Daisy.

Aw!!! You look so, so scary! You better not bite me! said Katie, in mock terror.

Daisy threw her arms around her big sister, giving her a huge hug, which was not very vampire-like at all. 

What are you going to be? asked Daisy, softly into Katie’s ear.

It’s a surprise. I’ll go put it on now, she replied in a hushed tone as well.

Katie disappeared into her closet. Rumbling and stirring could be heard through the door. 

Come on, show us, demanded Jessica.

Not yet, you’ll have to wait.

Just then a voice called out from below.

Time for school girls, said Abigail from the front doorway. 

The sound of footsteps rumbled down the stairwell, as the costumed girls got one last inspection from their mother. Katie, of course, was last to descend the steps.

Katie… my word, said Abigail, exhaustedly. A witch, really?

Katie gave a devilish grin and a shrug of the shoulders, in an, oh well, manner, before passing by her mother and heading out the door with broomstick in hand.

Wait, sweetie, said Abigail, a quick word. 

Yes, Mother, replied Katie, turning back towards Mrs. Windsor.

Katie um, your father and I talked, and we don’t want you going to play by the big tree anymore. In fact, please stay out of the woods altogether. Okay? she asked, as she brushed a stray hair which dangled in front of her daughter’s eye. A lump grew in Abigail’s throat at the very thought of losing her eldest daughter again. Before Katie could reply, her mother squeezed her tight.

I’m just so thankful we have you back.

Katie was clearly uncomfortable. The Windsors had never been an overly affectionate family, at least not as far as Katie was concerned. She always saw herself as… well different. Different than her sisters, at least. They were the ones who usually got smothered with these types of embraces.

Seeing Katie’s unease, Charles called out to his wife from across the yard where he was tinkering near the shed.

Abigail, she’s fine. Come on now, dear, let the girl get to school or she might cast a spell on you.

Yes, Charles, she replied, releasing her grip. Your father’s right. Straight to school, please. Don’t want to be tardy on your first day back.

With a kiss on her forehead, Katie rushed off to catch up with her sisters who were already across the field and spilling out onto the dirt road leading to school.

Wait up! she exclaimed.

A witch! said Annabelle, with a snicker. Priceless.

Ah, like I said, a princess would have been more appropriate, added Ruby with a smirk. 

Aw!!! squealed Daisy. Scary!

Thank you, Daisy, said Katie, with a wink.

Something is missing though, Katie thought, suddenly glancing at her feet, which were adorned with witchy styled long black boots. There was no cat. Every witch needs to have a cat, after all, concluded Katie. 

She looked back to the farmhouse and saw Green Eyes perched in the bedroom window. Odd, thought Katie, he’s always been at my heels when I leave for school, but not today? On this day of all days? 

Maybe he thought there wasn’t time for make-believe duels upon the Great Oak’s branches before first bell. Or maybe he heard mother and thought the tree was off limits. Wrong. Or maybe he just couldn’t sleep last night because my sisters’ snoring kept him up... and he’s tired. And then, just for a second, she had a terrible thought. Or… maybe he’s just tired of me. But it passed.

Either way, Green Eyes stayed behind.

The excitement of a spook filled day was undeniable. However, something else was in the air, too… rumors. 

As they neared the schoolyard it was apparent, that whether by messenger, owl or magical wind chimes, word of Katie’s return had spread throughout the small town of Windermere. It would seem that by keeping Katie out of sight since her return, it only made the mystery surrounding the eldest Windsor daughter grow more… mysterious.

At first, Katie noticed the looks upon the faces of quickly turned heads. Then, she heard the not-so-whispery whispers floating like daggers through the air. It was clear that there would be no ticker tape parade for the odd Windsor girl’s homecoming.

Hey! yelled a voice from the back of the room, as Katie and her sisters entered the old school house. 

Katie Windsor. What no mummy costume? After all, you have just returned from the dead, right? 

The brazen girl taunting Katie, began smelling the air in an unpleasant manner, Oh my, what is that smell?

Another girl to the side of the room answered, Is it dog doo?

No, answered the girl sniffing towards Katie. 

Yet a third girl offered a guess, I think it smells like a skunk that stepped in dog doo.

No, but close, said the mean girl on her soap box. And then, as if a light bulb suddenly appeared above her head, she yelled, I got it! It’s a corpse!

Yes, spot on! That’s it! said the other two girls patting the main instigator on her shoulders. 

I knew I had smelt that particular stench before, added the mean girl, nodding her head up and down, while eyeing Katie. "It’s a lying, attention seeking, foul, rotten corpse, which has supposedly returned from the dead."

And that lovely sentiment was offered by none other than, Mabel Wythenshawe of the Wythenshawes, otherwise known as the never-ending pain in Katie Windsor’s backside.  

Good one, Mabel, said Gertrude Moore.

Priscilla Pattensworth added, Yes! Yes! It’s a miracle! A very, stinky, stinky, miracle! 

Katie stood tall and did not wilt. Instead she eyed Mabel, who was dressed in an Egyptian queen’s attire.

Cleopatra, I assume? asked Katie. A very fitting costume for a spoiled brat who thinks herself royalty… a royal pain in the…

"How dare someone like you, speak to Mabel Wythenshawe in that way!" snarled Gertrude.

Ah, speaking of asses… it’s you two, snapped back Katie, looking Gertrude and Priscilla straight in the eyes before continuing. It seems wherever Mabel’s posterior goes, your puckered lips follow, glued gleefully to each cheek.

Oh my, the dead girl speaks… and with such awful, rotten, corpse breath. Ah! said Mabel.

Suddenly, Gertrude and Priscilla, dressed as Egyptian fan-bearers, pretended to faint. They fanned themselves vigorously while holding their noses, before dramatically collapsing to the floor.

Now, thanks to Mabel Wythenshawe and her cronies impromptu performance, every eye in the school house was transfixed on the lost no more Windsor girl, and on her alone. 

Katie ignored the insults and proceeded towards her seat. However, before she could place her books down, Gertrude and Priscilla regained consciousness from their pretend fainting spell, and blocked her pathway to either side of her desk. Young Miss Wythenshawe was not yet willing to let the ripe moment of humiliation pass by. Moving closer to Katie, she spoke as though she was a carnival barker ready to unveil a sideshow act.

Yes folks, gather round and see the wonder and spectacle that is Katie Windsor, the witch! Complete with broom in hand. Yes indeed, some of you know her as the odd, strange… grotesque girl who plays in the forest with her scraggly cat. But she is more than what she appears to be. She’s special! Or is she? 

Mabel continued, with her arms waving fancifully in the air, Ah yes, Miss Windsor would have you fine folks believe, that she just disappeared for days in the dark woods, and then as if by divine intervention, she magically reappeared! 

Mabel slammed her math book onto a nearby desktop for added effect, much the way a ticket taker would bang a cane to get gathered rubes’ attention along the midway. Gertrude and Priscilla continued fanning themselves, from the shock and horrors being spoken of before them.

But no, I tells ya! That is not what happened! exclaimed Mabel, while glaring at Katie. "See, the truth is, that this freak girl just wanted attention; wanted pity. Katie Windsor knew that because she is so weird, so odd, and so desperate… that it would take a whopper of a tale, for her to even have the slimmest of chances of getting a boyfriend, she paused for effect,  …to kiss! That’s right, instead of always smooching her cat. So she made up a lie!"

The entire room burst into laughter, as Mabel was kissing a tightly cradled bundle of air, adoringly. Katie’s cheeks turned red. She noticed that her sisters all appeared uncomfortable, not quite knowing what to do. After all, they had just spent days in the forest calling her name; truly believing they’d never see their older sister again. Still, they remained silent. Feeling hurt, Katie’s gaze fell to her feet.

Come clean! demanded Mabel, her math book held high above her head almost reaching the heavens, now resembling a preacher scolding the town drunk. Confess… you are in love with your cat. And the two of you eloped and got married! That is where you disappeared to, isn’t it? Isn’t it? 

The classroom collectively held its breath, thinking Mabel might strike Katie with the book. Instead Miss Wythenshawe moved in closer, just inches from Katie’s face. The laughs abruptly died down and a darker tone emerged. 

I said, isn’t that right, Freak? Isn’t it… right!?

Mabel’s warm breath upon Katie’s skin might as well have been sharp nails digging their way down to the bone. Katie closed her eyes and in a flash, she was back in a darkened cave; before her stood Osiris. He was taunting her. Beside her was the dead body of her protector, Simon. Hathor was once again in her line of vision, bleeding to death, just feet from Eshe’s smashed enchanted lantern.

The light, said Katie softly, as she watched it flicker in her mind, just as it did on the day she defeated the Dark One.

What did you say, you shy little freak? snarled Mabel, now tilting her head to the side, as to hear more clearly.

I asked you, isn’t that right? she demanded through gnashed teeth. And I want an answer, not just mumbles.

The entire room was silent. All were waiting to hear what the once-missing girl would say. 

One quiet whispery phrase repeated itself.

The light. It’s so warm and bright. I can still see it.

But the words were still too soft to make out.

What did she say? asked Priscilla.

I think she’s going to cry. Boo hoo, snickered Gertrude.

But she didn’t cry. No, she spoke as she had once before, in a darkened cave, worlds away. She spoke without fear.

The light. I see it, said Katie as her eyes opened wide abruptly. Can’t you? Or are you too filled with darkness to notice it there?

At that moment, the large bell atop the schoolhouse rang out like a clap of thunder. Katie’s palms began to rise. And as they did so, the doors and windows all flew open,