The charmed book

PART 1
WAXING MOON

1

The mystery of the book

Prescilla was nine years old when the charmed book opened. The event was a complete surprise, but she was waiting for it. It all happened due to a chain of events, that would better be explained from the beginning. And so by the sweeping of the pages of this old book the memories of what was before came to her mind, Yvette was right, Prescilla thought.

The Forester family lived in Blackthorn Road, in the outsides of Canterbury, England. It was a small good family, just like any other.

This family was composed firstly by the father, who was a policeman and worked in London. He was a man who took care of his family and fought the dangers and put nasty people into jail. He liked to think of himself as a detective, and he was a huge fan of Scooby Doo. He liked reading, watching movies and playing videogames (it reminded him of his childhood). Although he was a very brave man, he had the best taste in music, he loved some good rock music and not that thing people call music, rap for him was outrageous. He enjoyed rock & roll and loved his old car, but more than this he loved his wife.

She was a very strong, independent and passionate woman; she was very clever and humble. She was in between jobs mostly.
She had brown-dyed hair and dark eyes, her hair-length reached her shoulders and no further, she was a bit short compared to her husband, but most woman are, right?
What she loved was drawing Zen-art, and inviting friends over to her house and being the great host she was

The father and the mother had a daughter called Prescilla, their little girl who liked reading and adventures, the little girl who, when their cat died and they buried it in the backyard, every night she would lock all the doors and windows, fearful of the cat turning into a zombie. Prescilla had long curly blond hair, and blue eyes like her father’s. She used to like dressing up and playing with the children of her mom’s friends. Prescilla amongst all her toys and stuffed Spiderman; her favourite toys were Morph and Bunny.

This was the normal family that lived in the end of Blackthorn road, in their two-stored house with a car for her mother and other for her father, and his special vintage car saved in the garage.

But besides these little things the Foresters were really good people, so not much bad happened to them, until her mother’s health gave a terrible turn, and she got worse.

What gave this family a very special touch was the fact that since Prescilla could remember, her parents had applied for receiving students from other countries as guests in their house. Prescilla was 6 years old when a very special visit came to her home, she was more than used to those girls from all around the world staying in her house, coming and going, she had this folder in which she wrote about the places where they came from, with the flags, the languages and all.

Her mom just had her hand operated when two girls from some south-american countries came for 3 weeks, usually the girls didn’t stay that long, so maybe she could get to know this new girls well. They spoke good English, Prescilla realized about this because some girls would just not talk much, or speak in their own language only, or just lock themselves in their own room.

Prescilla was really happy with the girls; the youngest was thirteen, named Kernel, with curly hair the colour of walnut and green eyes, she usually was away from the house busy with her classmates, but she still got time to talk and play with her. The oldest was sixteen, she was named Yvette and she made her a drawing on the day they met, it was Prescilla dressed as an astronaut, they put it on the fridge. Yvette had red hair and light brown eyes, her skin was so white you’d imagine she came from the Antarctica. She was always happy and liked walking through Blackthorn Road in the morning to see the sunrise and the hooting of the owls from the trees, and she loved it when she found cats in the neighbourhood.

In the weekend of the second week, Prescilla’s mom had to get her shoulder operated, just when it was Bunny’s birthday! Apparently the girls had the day off, and while the youngest went for a walk with her mates and teacher, Yvette stayed to draw and spend time with the family. Of course Prescilla invited her to Bunny’s birthday party, she made an invitation and all. Then she helped her foreign friend to chose a gift for Bunny from her bedroom, she chose a book. When it was about time they came to Bunny’s party, which was at the living room, they played, they danced, and then it was scheduled to see a movie.

“Have you ever seen Spiderwick?” Asked Prescilla.
“No, I have not, what is it about?” Said Yvette with a smile.
“Oh, you’ll see” She laughed, and put the movie and sat together in the couch to see it.

This movie woke several thoughts in Yvette’s mind, like “Those earthling movies, so creative, so imaginative, I love them.” It also made her consider something that would change everything, or nothing. She looked at Prescilla, who was immersed in the movie, she seemed like a curious clever girl, the kind of girl who is brave enough to explore the lands where Yvette REALLY was from.

When the movie had finished, the travelling girl felt the urge to do it, and as she couldn’t help herself, she said it.

“I’ve got something for you, it is something I have that this movie reminded me of, wait here while I go fetch it” And she blinked an eye to Prescilla as she disappeared from sight. When she came back, she was holding a book; a very old-looking book, very beautiful and strange. “This, Prescilla, is a Charmed book. There are very few like this and little who know how to read it and use it, I want you to have it, I have another copy at home. Maybe one day, when the right time comes you’ll be able to open it, it may be in some years, but still.” Then her smile wasn’t as wide as before “And remember what this movie teaches, adventures and magic comes with a price” She warned, and Prescilla grabbed the book and it was quite heavy, with curious eyes she looked at her friend, she wondered; would she be able to have an adventure like in Spiderwick? “No one, absolutely no one else must know about this book, you keep it to yourself, alright?” Yvette smiled at her “I have a feeling I can trust you with this”.

That was the secret gift Prescilla had that nobody else knew about except for Yvette, who faded away after the three weeks they were staying at her home.

Time passed, other girls from around the world came and left, her mom kept getting more and more operations, and the book was never opened, it seemed as if the book was waiting.

3 years later, Prescilla was 9 years old, and was worried sick about her mother’s health. Her dad one day came to her and told her the inevitable plan of taking her to her granny’s for some time, because her mom had to be in a hospital in London for a while and he was to be with her, and working.

Granny lived in Brighton with Prescilla’s father’s sister. He took his daughter there and after checking everything was all right said farewell, which made Prescilla quite sad because she didn’t want to be without her ma and pa. She suddenly became a very lonely child, far away from her friends, without her mother and father, stuck with two old ladies who didn’t play or talk with her. Her aunt and granny didn’t know how to keep a conversation equal and thought that since she was small they could ignore whatever Prescilla said.

She didn’t forget her charmed book, she always carried it with her, and tried to open it every time she achieved something; like riding a bike on her own, or learning to swim, or having A+ at school. It reminded her of Yvette and Spiderwick, even if it had been so long ago, she always had the hope it would open and she would see what it had that was so charmed and secret.

On a sunny day, her aunt and grandma took her for a walk and left her in the park in front to the Royal Pavilion while they went shopping. Prescilla first got herself into the museum close to the park, hoping it was free and she didn’t have to pay to get inside; it was. She got lost in those rooms full of art and history, and when she found the way out, she sat in the park, observing the tall trees and the protective fences. From her bag (where she carried anything she might need) she took the book, to touch the cover in wonder with her curious little fingers. It had a belt that in the joint it had spikes holding onto the book (which was what kept it closed and un-open-able) it also had a five-pointed star. It was purple-ish brown; the pages were very yellow so it definitely was an old book.

Just in that moment, sitting in the grass observing the book, Prescilla didn’t know why, but the five spikes started to unlock and so the belt was free to be opened and peak inside the book. When she looked around she saw she was alone in the park. The wind was light, there were tourists making line in the Royal Pavilion, and she had the opportunity to finally inspect the secrets hidden inside her book; something she had waited for so long, excitement ran over her and her heart beating fast. It was written in some strange language, but as soon as she laid her fingers on the paper, the words seemed to change and turn into English, still, it had a lot of odd words and complicated names. It had several drawings and it DID remind Prescilla of the Spiderwick field book, because it was handmade, or so it seemed at least.

Inside it had spells, odd spells to hold fire in a crystal bowl and turn into liquid, differences between creatures, the different poisons of a dragon, how to cure a cold with plain grass, it had a lot more and maybe too much for that moment, so she closed it, but did not lock it, and put it back into her bag, fearful it would lock itself again.

Not long after, her aunt came for her in the car, she was with some friend of hers talking about some “interesting” course she took and how good the teacher was and that’s all Prescilla got to listen before her mind swept away into the window car.

“Your father just called; he said your mom just got inside the operation room. I told him we all wish for her best” Said her gran loudly. They were in the dining room and Prescilla was sitting in the table next to the window, reading The chronicles of Narnia, while grandma, aunt and Karen (aunt’s friend) were having a cuppa of tea and chatting. In the next room you could hear the telly on but there never was anyone watching it.
“I once had a friend who died of cancer” Said Karen.
“Oh dear, gosh” Said grandma
“Yes, I remember, she died in the friendship’s national day. I was with her, and just after I left she died and the doctors called me and I had to get back.”
“Dear me!” Said aunt
“I was taking care of her that day, and out of the blue she got nervous and said to me ‘Oh please, don’t leave, I am afraid, I don’t want to die’ and I was all like ‘Heeey, take it easy, you’re not going to die! I won’t leave, it’s ok, it’s ok.’ But it was like, all of a sudden she got all this nervous, you know what I mean?”
“Well, yes, yes, of course. You know, when she gets all…yes, yes, you know? Exactly my point” Said grandma.
“And later at night, her ex was coming to visit her, and I was about to leave the hospital, because my shift was over and another friend was coming to watch out for her, you know?”
“Nah, absolutely. You can’t stay, and you have to shift and you have to take turns and; well, yes, of course.”
“The moment when I left the hospital, her ex hadn’t arrived yet and the doctors had ringed me to tell me she was dead, and it was so fast! I mean I didn’t even had time to do anything, when I left the hospital”
“For Christ’s sake, God save her soul” Said aunt.
“At first, I felt so guilty for her death” Said Karen.
“Well, yes, I imagine, no wonder, feeling guilty after, yeah” Grandma added.

Prescilla thought her grandma couldn’t end and idea of her own, and when talking actually repeated what the other person just said. Tired of listening, she took her book and bag and got off to the backyard and sat there to stare at the clouds.

She always dreamt of travelling, and her pa and ma had promised her they would go to Egypt soon, but her ma’s health got worse and worse. Maybe one day when she’s gotten all better and out of the hospital they could travel to Greece and France and Egypt and all over the world along with her mother and father and be happy.

After staring at the sky, she took another look at the book, she read about guardian ghosts and dancing flowers, which danced in order to hide when danger was coming. It was all so beautiful; it was the world she always dreamt of visiting, it would be like all those worlds on books. She could go in there and turn into the queen and when coming back home, time wouldn’t have passed and she could be with her family and friends, and maybe one day come back. But it was just a book, a book that showed her wonders that would never reach her, that would only help her feel better while her parents were away.

Then, she found it. The very page, of the very book, that would lead her into the adventure.

The corner or the page was folded in order to find the page easy and quick if you needed it. The heading said, “TRAVELLING” but it didn’t say where to. It seemed like one of the spells from the book, but al the others needed stranger things than this one. So Prescilla thought, why not? There was nothing to lose, and it was just chalk that she needed to use. She didn’t know if it was full moon, but she could check it out at night.

That night after having dinner with her grandma, she looked out the window, it wasn’t full moon, but it was really close. So she went out to there anyway. She took the book, the chalk, and in the backyard, the house’s wall was in contact with grass, as it specifically asked in the book it should be that way. It was all perfect.

So she drew a door as tall as her arm could reach, and grabbed the book to read out loud “Darksome nights and shining moon, hearken to my joyous tune. Me who walks between two worlds conjure thee; A boundary to protect, that power raised here be not in vain. Therefore do I bless thee and consecrate thee, to travel free. By the power of moon and sun,” Prescilla looked at the wall, and then at the moon, nothing was happening. “So mote it be” She said at last. But nothing happened.

She sat in the grass, staring at the wall, at her drawn door. She sat there but nothing happened. She didn’t care; she would try again in a few days when it truly was full moon.

Prescilla decided to prepare a bag for her future journey, so along the next few days she stole apples, biscuits, chocolates, sandwiches from her grandmother and then her toothbrush and toothpaste, warm clothes just in case, and of course, the book. She would have taken Bunny and Morph, but she had left them at home, what she deeply regretted. It was then, the night of the full moon; she would know this by watching outside the window every night (every clear night) and see if it was full.

She was playing unblock me in her aunt’s mobile phone when she realized, it was time. She run to her bedroom (she actually slept with her grandmother) and got her rubber boots and her bag and asked permission to go outside and watch the moon, of course this was a strange request to her granny since the moon was such a common thing, but she gave her the permission, anyway.

The moon sat high in the sky, there were clouds all around it menacing of rain and storm, but it was quite cool. She turned to the wall and saw the old drawing of her door, and tried to erase it with her sweater, which didn’t work at all that much but it was well enough for her. The pressure made with the chalk this time was far stronger, as to mark the difference from the old one.

And so Prescilla began the ritual, which, this time, was far different from the first time, when her voice recited the chant, the wind began to whirl and make the grass flatten against all directions, and give her the chills, as she continued the speech (though shouting, for the wind increased and was getting stronger) and apple-greenish light appeared through the lines of chalk in the wall, and you could see no more chalk in it, for the light was getting stronger as well as the wind did, and for a moment all Prescilla could see was light, but she kept trying to say the words until the end.

“So mote it be!” She cried, for she felt she wouldn’t listen herself in the overwhelming sound of the wind. And there was no light coming out from the door, and the wind ceased, and the only thing she could pay attention now was…the wooden door that lay just in front of her. She couldn’t believe her eyes (but since she wanted to believe, she actually did). The charm had worked! That travelling door was right in front of her, and of course she was now ready to go.

It was so silent, you could hear the flight of a butterfly, or Prescilla’s breath, or most important, her heart beats, because her little heart was beating so fast that she stretched her arm into the door knock and as she held her breath when she turned it, there was the click of the opening. She pushed it.