Spellweaver

written for the short story contest for the PDG. Use of a prompt pic of a girl...

She sat alone in her bedroom with the door shut. The small bedside lamp was the only source of light so as not to disturb her father, asleep in the other room. Sheena opened the book, tentatively at first. What was she afraid of anyway? It was only a book of love spells. Nothing evil there, right? She grew bolder as she sorted through the different concoctions and potions, spells and riddles that promised to bring her true love to her door in only a matter of days. "Everything will work out just fine, after all if it doesn't work, what do I have to lose?" She said to no one in particular.

She was drawn to a particular spell, one that promised to find her soul mate, binding her lover forever by her side. She gathered the rose petals and the perfumed oils that were needed to cast the spell. She followed the directions carefully; she did not want to risk botching anything up and somehow ending up with a frog rather than her prince. That would be such a bummer. She put down the book, feeling quite satisfied with herself. If, in fact, this spell brought her a true and lasting lover, that would be so awesome! "Bring him to me, my secret lover" she said as she jumped into her bed. She snuggled deep into her down filled covers, and fell asleep thinking about who that magic man would be.

The next morning, on the phone, she told her best friend what she had done. "I can't wait!" Sheena giggled.

"You can't really believe that will work? Come on now, it is all a joke, a hoax. Those things never come true," Matilda replied.

Sheena laughed and agreed that it was just a bunch of wishful thinking on her part. She hung up the phone and started getting ready for school. The 'magic' she had wrought the night before left her mind as she showered and prepared for a full day of tests and grouchy teachers.

Sheena never saw it coming as she left that morning for school. The spell working its magic, she was surprised by the boy standing next to her mailbox. He seemed to be waiting for her.

"Hello, can I help you?" She looked into the eyes of the very cute, dark-haired stranger.

"You called me to you, remember?" He replied as he grasped her hand and held it to his heart. His hands were ice cold and when she looked at him again, she noticed that his pupils were not black but a deep red.

Sheena screamed as she was pulled into the earth.