Chapter 12: The Ghost Witch

“Is that…” my words were cut short by the sound of ice-cold laughter crackling through the air.

Sadie stood there, a vision of spectral glory. Her body was nearly transparent in the malevolent glow, but she was grander. The laughter stopped, and with a sweeping, dramatic gesture of her arm, she didn’t just relight our candles, she summoned a dozen more, transforming the dining area into an unnervingly bright, flickering cavern. Sadie now appeared more solid, more frighteningly real.

With the light restored, we instinctively huddled together. Sadie swept dramatically into the room, her new outfit a theatrical declaration: a long dress that barely skimmed the floor and a cape that shimmered with the terrifying depth of a starless night sky. Her power was a palpable force, chilling the air until it stung.

In a voice that resonated and echoed, she spoke: “I wish to thank you for breaking my silence, little witch.”

I looked at Erin; she looked back, eyes wide and bewildered. Neither of us had any idea what she meant.

“Yes, yes, be confused. I’ll have to make my story simple for you fools.” She paced, the cape swirling past us like a gust of icy wind as she explained, “My punishment was cruel. Cursed to walk this land in utter silence for all eternity. I think not!”

Lizzie, ever the unflinching brick wall, planted herself in front of the group. “What did you do?”

Sadie threw her head back, laughing like a hammy stage villain. “That is not the matter for you, my fanged foe.” She chortled, enjoying the fresh shock on our faces, before closing the space between them in a flash, ending up terrifyingly nose-to-nose with Lizzie. We were all plastered behind Lizzie, who remained motionless.

“What do you want?” I blurted out, a sudden, desperate surge of bravery.

“That is the correct question. Very good,” Sadie purred, craning her neck around Lizzie’s shoulder to peek at me. Lizzie immediately took a full step forward, blocking me again.

Sadie spun away, returning to the sunroom doors. She commanded them shut with a swooping hand motion, then spun on her toes like a dancer in a waltz. “You do not need to fear me… yet.” She giggled, a sound like glass shattering. “No, no, my motley crew, I WANT you.”

Lizzie took the lead again, cutting to the chase. “What do you WANT?”

Sadie shifted, dancing to some unheard melody. “I want a great many things, but tonight…” She stopped abruptly, fixing us with a manic gaze. “Tonight, I want to be free.” The ghost witch beat her own chest with her fists.

We were silent. I believed her desire, but I sensed a trap. I kept my voice steady. “Be more specific.”

“Specific…” Sadie observed me, forcing me to lean slightly further behind Lizzie, who was a literal mountain of fearlessness. “Come out, little mortal; you have nothing to fear from me.”

I stepped beside Lizzie, centering myself. I can be calm and think twice.

“I will not harm you. No, no, no, I will not,” Sadie assured me, shaking her head before tilting it sideways. “No more tricks to treat me tonight. Your mongrel found my last.” Sadie pointed at Spencer, who was peeking around Lizzie’s elbow.

Spencer mumbled, “Crazy witch,” under his breath.

Sadie clicked her tongue. “Foul beast. If I play nice, you have to be a good boy.” She waved a dismissive arm before resting it on her hip, idly playing with a loose strand of hair that seemed to float independently around her face.

I pressed again. “What do you want, specifically?”

“I no longer wish to be a lonely specter. My powers will do me no good in this life. I am ready to join my sisters in the afterworld.”

Erin and Zora inched around Lizzie to get a better look at Sadie. I glanced at them but kept the conversation going. “And you are trapped here?”

“Yes,” Sadie hissed, her eyes momentarily wild with genuine fury.

“What will set you free?” Lizzie asked.

“It’s a tiny little spell from my book. Nothing more and nothing less.” Sadie placed her chin on her fist and batted her eyelashes in a mockery of innocence.

Lizzie looked at me, and I bit the inside of my lip, desperately trying to think. Erin whispered in my ear. “Maybe we should look at the spell and see what it needs.” She grabbed the navy-blue book from the table and held it between us.

I started to open the cover, but Lizzie snatched it gently. “Wait, what if this is another trick!” She was right.

“It is NOT a trick!” Sadie practically wailed, clearly losing her patience. “Hold it open, and I’ll show you the page!” She stomped her foot.

Lizzie, still wary, held the book out with both hands. Sadie approached, waved her hand over the pages, and they began to flip, slowly at first, then quicker, until they slammed to a stop. Sadie twirled and danced away.

Lizzie read the title aloud: “Untethering Spell.” She cleared her throat and read the first ingredient on the list: “For ghosts who have become tethered to the living world. You will need… the blood of the wicked.”

I immediately spoke up. “You need us.”

Sadie scoffed. “No, not you, silly. The vampire,” she nodded toward Lizzie, “or this one will do nicely.” She walked slowly up to Zora, who stood next to Lizzie, and waved her hand in a circle in front of Zora. “Yes. I feel the weight of power here.” She glanced at Spencer, sniffing the air. “Easy, Fido, I haven’t forgotten about you.”

I looked over Lizzie’s shoulder at the spell text and continued reading. “Should the ghost be preternatural in origin, a vessel through which their faculties may be transferred will be needed.”

Sadie spun around, her face twisting into a low growl. “You are troublesome!”

I smiled, feeling a rush of vindication. “Explain this, now.”

She turned to walk toward me, but Lizzie slammed the book onto the ground. Sadie simply laughed and walked through Lizzie to stand directly in front of me. Lizzie shivered violently, dropping to her knees, visibly shaken. She got up quickly, but her eyes were unsteady. Zora and Erin instantly grabbed her under her arms.

Sadie stood before me, smiling. “Don’t worry, she’ll be fine in a moment.” She laughed again. “To answer you, my sweet…” Sadie tucked her finger under my chin. I could feel the powerful, cold energy roiling off her. “I must give away each of my powers.”

Lizzie gathered herself, and Zora and Erin let her stand on her own. I focused on Sadie. “Powers, as in magic?”

Spencer walked up beside me, our shoulders brushing. Sadie considered him, then snapped her gaze back to me. “Yes, in a way.” She stepped away, nearly floating as she swayed to the music only she could hear.

“‘In a way,’” I repeated, trying to maintain control. “Do I need to repeat myself?” Spencer’s grip tightened on my arm. I was getting too brave.

“Oh, curses, you want me to be… specific,” Sadie pouted.

“Yes, she does,” Lizzie spoke up, looking sickly but defiant.

Sadie’s pout turned into a sneer. The green tint of her ghostly frame was now vibrant, pulsing with rage. “I’ll be clear. I have certain powers, some of which cannot be taken to the afterworld. You each will accept my gift.” She paused, her face calming into an almost pleasant expression. “Let’s call this good fortune that you five have come along.” Sadie gave us a deep, formal bow.

“Good fortune for you, maybe, but what if we don’t want your powers?” I challenged. Spencer gripped my arm tighter. I needed to shut up.

Sadie threw her hands up in the air. “That is idiotic! You must accept it and set me free!” She was clearly accustomed to getting her way.

Erin tugged on my shirt. “Maybe we should see what she’s offering?”

Sadie smiled. “Very good, my little witch.” She swished her skirt and adjusted her cape. “I can only give what I have to give, and I have few gifts.” She attempted to look demure.

She fell silent, but Spencer squeezed my arm tighter, and it genuinely hurt. I touched his hand and whispered, “Ease down; that hurts.” Spencer seemed to snap out of a dream, looking at me with wide, panicked eyes.

“She was calling me to her!” Spencer said, shaking off whatever influence had gripped him.

“What do you mean?” We all stared at him, except Lizzie, who kept her eyes locked on Sadie.

Spencer took a deep breath. “She’s been trying to make me walk to her. I could hear her in my head.”

Sadie laughed, a sharp, cold sound. “You are stronger than you appear. Perhaps you would be worthy.”

“No more games,” Lizzie demanded.

“Tsk tsk, everyone loves my games,” Sadie said, crossing her arms. “Were I as fair as that one, perhaps you would find my games more appealing.” Sadie looked at Zora, who was still slightly behind the others. Lizzie looked at Zora for a brief, protective moment.

Lizzie smirked faintly. “Perhaps.” She held out her hand. Zora took it, walking fully beside her. We were all lined up now, facing the ghost.

Sadie’s smirk returned as she explained, “You do not fear death because you have already faced it… But there are things worse than death for you and your friends.” Lizzie’s eyebrow lifted, and she pulled Zora closer, who wrapped herself around Lizzie’s arm.

“All you’ve done is threaten and try to kill us,” Erin challenged, inching closer to the group, standing between Spencer and Lizzie. “Why should we help you?”

“It is simple. You help me, and I won’t kill you all.” Her voice grew, the echo of ‘Kill you’ vibrating through the room. She raised her hands, and a blinding ball of green light coalesced in her palms. It shrank, running like a visible string of electricity from her palms to her fingertips.

Pulling away slightly from Zora’s grip, Lizzie raised her hands in submission. “Wait.” Zora immediately moved her hand to Lizzie’s waist. Lizzie spoke directly to Sadie. “We don’t want that. If you truly want help, everyone has to be safe.”

Sadie squinted, letting her hands drop. “The spell needs five, and five we have. Safe and sound.” She offered a deep curtsy. It was not a promise of safety, but it was the closest thing to a binding agreement we were going to get.